Live-in care in Surrey

Surrey is a county of long-settled homes. Many of the people we help have lived in the same house for thirty or forty years: a family home in Guildford or Epsom, a cottage on the edge of Farnham, a house in Woking or Reigate with a garden that has been loved through every season. When more support is needed, the hardest part is rarely the care itself. It is the thought of leaving all of that behind. Live-in care offers a different path: a carefully matched carer lives with you in your own home, so you get round-the-clock support without giving up the place, the garden, and the routines that make life feel like yours.

The shape of the county matters too. Surrey life often happens in villages and small towns, from Cranleigh and Shere to Chobham and the Bookhams, where the pharmacy, the church, the farm shop and the neighbours are all part of a daily rhythm that took decades to build. A move into residential care can put that rhythm out of reach. Staying at home keeps it on your doorstep. And because so many adult sons and daughters of Surrey families commute to London or live there, live-in care often brings real peace of mind: someone trusted is at home every day, and visits back to Guildford or Epsom can be about family time rather than firefighting.

MeddyCare is a CQC-registered introductory agency. We introduce vetted, self-employed live-in carers to families across Surrey, and you choose the person who feels right. You then contract with your carer directly, which keeps you in control of who comes into your home and how your care is arranged.

What live-in care costs in Surrey

Nationally, live-in care typically costs between £1,200 and £1,800 per week, depending on the level of support needed. Surrey often sits towards the upper end of that range, reflecting the cost of living in the county, though every arrangement is different and the carer you choose sets the rate you pay.

Families here usually weigh live-in care against residential care, and that comparison matters in Surrey, where care home fees are among the highest outside London. For couples in particular, live-in care often changes the sums entirely: where two residential placements would mean two sets of fees, a live-in arrangement usually means one carer and one weekly cost, with both of you supported together in the home you share.

With MeddyCare, every carer sets their own weekly rate, and you see it up front on their profile. There are no hidden markups added later: what you agree with your carer is what you pay, and our introduction fee is explained clearly before you commit to anything.

Paying for care in Surrey

There are three main routes Surrey families use to fund live-in care:

Self-funding. Many Surrey families pay for care themselves, often drawing on pensions, savings, property or benefits such as Attendance Allowance. Because carers on MeddyCare set transparent rates, it is easier to budget and to compare live-in care fairly against local care home fees.

Surrey County Council adult social care. If you think you may qualify for council support, the first step is a care needs assessment from Surrey County Council, followed by a financial assessment. If the council agrees to fund some or all of your care, you can ask for Direct Payments, which let you choose your own provider, including a self-employed live-in carer introduced through MeddyCare.

NHS Continuing Healthcare. If your needs are primarily health-related, you may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, a package of care arranged and fully funded by the NHS. Eligibility is assessed by the NHS, and it is worth asking your GP or district nurse whether an assessment would be appropriate.

How MeddyCare works in Surrey

1. Tell us what you need. Share the basics: the support required, the home setup, personality, languages, and anything that matters to your family, from a much-loved dog to a garden that must be kept up.

2. Meet matched carers. We introduce you to vetted, self-employed carers whose experience fits your needs. Every carer on MeddyCare is DBS-checked and interviewed before they can be matched, and you decide who you want to meet.

3. Care begins, with support alongside you. Once you have chosen your carer, care starts on a date that suits you. A MeddyCare Care Coordinator stays alongside your family, and we aim to make any changes, from holiday cover to a change in needs, as smooth as possible.

Common questions from Surrey families

Do you cover the whole of Surrey, including the villages?

Yes. Because the carer lives in your home, live-in care works just as well in a village outside Dorking or Haslemere as it does in the middle of Guildford or Woking. Rural addresses that are hard to serve with hourly visits are often a natural fit for live-in care.

Is live-in care cheaper than a care home in Surrey?

Not always for one person, but with Surrey care home fees among the highest outside London, the comparison is often closer than families expect. For couples, live-in care is frequently the more economical choice, because one carer supports you both for a single weekly cost, and you keep the home you share.

Who employs the carer?

The carer is self-employed, and your family contracts with them directly. MeddyCare is an introductory agency: we vet, DBS-check and interview carers, make the match, and support you throughout, but we are not the carer's employer and we do not deliver clinical care ourselves.

How quickly can live-in care start?

It depends on your needs and which carers are available, but arrangements can often begin within days to a couple of weeks. If you are facing a hospital discharge, from the Royal Surrey in Guildford or elsewhere, tell us early and we will aim to move quickly.