What training will the carer have?

Every carer must pass our interview process and provide: – At least 2 verifiable references – Examples of at least 6 months’ experience – An enhanced DBS certificate As an introductory provider, we are unable to provide bespoke training. However, through our carer loyalty programme, carers who actively find work through our platform have access to a third-party online learning platform, where they can enhance their skills. We match based on the skills and experience you tell us you need, for example, if your loved one has dementia, we’ll only match you to self-employed carers with experience of looking after someone with the condition. We consistently re-evaluate which carers we work with based on feedback from families.

Can I meet the carer before they arrive?

We’ll always send you an introductory video of each carer you’re matched with – where they’ll tell you about their background, what they enjoy about being a carer, and their hobbies and interests. Once you’ve chosen your carer, we’re happy to set up a virtual meeting too, such as a Zoom call so that you can get to know them better before they arrive.

How quickly can care be arranged?

We have a large nationwide network of 6000+ independent care professionals, and have connected families to carers in 123 of 124 postcode areas in Great Britain. This means we can usually get care in place within 24 to 48 hours if your needs are urgent.

Can the carer administer drugs?

Yes if the medications are non-controlled. However carers can prompt and remind, but aren’t allowed to administer controlled drugs and injections. If this is a hard requirement, it might make financial sense for you to have a nurse visit in addition to the main carer, rather than hiring a clinically-trained carer.

Will they be English speaking?

Yes. Every carer we work with must have a good level of written and spoken English. If you’d prefer a carer who also speaks a second language, simply let us know.

Would I get sent a different carer every time?

No. We do our best to keep the number of carers that visit you to a minimum as we recognise the importance of routine and consistency to the elderly. Plus it allows them to do a better job, and they take pride in that.

Can I use local authority or NHS funding to pay for visiting care?

Yes, many of our customers use funding from their local authority to cover all or part of their care costs. Often customers choose to receive their funding as a direct payment, so that they’re free to choose their own the carer provider, rather than the council picking one for them. If you’ve not started the process of applying for local authority funding, we have mapped out the full process here. If you or a loved one is living with an on-going health condition, it’s worth applying for NHS Continuing Healthcare too. If you meet the criteria, this form of funding will cover every penny of your care costs. However, bear in mind that this funding is reserved for complex conditions which may fall out of the scope of what a self-employed carer can provide.

Is there a minimum hours of care I need to book?

No, you can book as little as 1 hour. However if you require a large number of hours, we offer live-in care which might suit you better. Our care advisors can explain it all, just give us a call if you’re unsure.

Is Elder CQC-regulated?

Elder is an introductory agency, so we’re not CQC-regulated. We introduce families to self-employed carers and support the relationship throughout the placement. As we don't manage care directly, we’re not required to be regulated by the CQC. Read more about how an introductory agency works and what it means for families using Elder. We carefully vet every care professional before they join our platform and have a range of processes in place to help maintain high standards. You can learn more in our Safety and Trust guide.

Find the right carer and keep the life you know and love

Elder is an award-winning marketplace connecting families and self-employed home carers across Great Britain.

Find a carer 0333 920 3648

More affordable

On average, services facilitated by Elder are 35% cheaper than traditional alternatives.

Keep your routine

Whenever and however you need it, you set the scope of your service.

Choose your carer

Pick your favourite self-employed carer from personalised matches.

5-star support

Use our platform to plan and manage care from anywhere, and chat to 5* rated support teams.

TRUSTED BY FAMILIES ACROSS THE UK

The numbers that matter

We measure our success by how families feel - before, during, and long after arranging care through Elder.

0,000+families used Elder

0+ millionhours of care delivered

0,000+experienced carers

0,000+carer reviews shared

0Excellent rating on Trustpilot

Future

Kirklees

What families say:Future is an excellent carer. She is very competent and compassionate. As well as helping Mum with domestic things and personal care, she is a lovely companion with a generous and warm personality. Future keeps the house neat, clean and tidy. We...

Janine

County Durham

What families say:Janine is an amazing carer in every way and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone

Sally

Charnwood

What families say:Sally looked after my parents with great care and showed her experience. We are grateful for the help during the short period she was carer with us.

Olivia

South Holland

What families say:Olivia was an angel sent from heaven. Pro-active and caring - the change in mum (for the better) during her stay was clear for everyone to see.

Wilson

Isle of Wight

What families say:Wilson is still caring for my father. We cannot say how wonderful his care has been. He is incredibly responsive, sensitive and thoughtful in his approach, kind and an excellent communicator.

Janet

York

What families say:Janet is a great carer and looked after Dad very well while she was with him. She is kind, considerate and easy to get along with. She would be a great carer for someone else’s family.

Petrina

East Riding of Yorkshire

What families say:Trina was a kind, compassionate and positive Carer who looked after my mother beautifully. My mother has challenging needs as she uses non verbal communication and needs hoisting. Trina coped with that really well. She was a pleasure to have and I...

Angeline

Birmingham

What families say:Angeline is fantastic just the person we hoped that she would be. When you start this process it's never easy to fully appreciate what you need and if the person that you have chosen is going to be the right person. Angeline has been the most...

Lione

Hillingdon

What families say:Lione continues to offer a high standard of care and companionship for Yvonne.

Mariam

Reading

What families say:Mariam was everything we hoped for when we looked for a live in carer. From the minute she arrived she was full of sunshine, kind , compassionate, professional and very understanding of the needs of my mother-in-law. We miss her already, and would...

Natasha

Wigan

What families say:During the time I have known Natasha, she has consistently demonstrated genuine care, reliability, and a strong sense of responsibility. Whether supporting clients with daily tasks, offering companionship, or handling more complex care needs,...

Misodzi

Oldham

What families say:Mini settled in really quickly with my dad and was warm, insightful and caring in her time with him.

Elizabeth

North Ayrshire

What families say:Elizabeth is a kind carer who knows my aunt well and has looked after her very professionally on several occasions. She is confident, an excellent communicator and great cook and takes my aunt on her favourite trips in the local area. I would...

Aminah

Newham

What families say:Aminah settled into the house really well and quickly gained Step Mum’s confidence and in turn has allowed my father to relax

Proscovia

Merton

What families say:We have already noticed a change with mum since Proscovia started as her live in carer . Mum has warned greatly to her and seems less anxious . She is settling into more of routine and for the first time in months showering regularly etc ....

Everloise

Walsall

What families say:Everloise is a delightful, extremely capable and professional career of the highest standard. She has a very warm calm reassuring personality and has the ability to fit in with the client and household seamlessly, while being very efficient at all...

Feras

Manchester

What families say:I would highly recommend him. He covered for my uncle’s usual carer for about three weeks and was reliable, caring and professional throughout. He went above and beyond what was expected of him and kept the house very clean and tidy. My uncle was...

Antoinette

South Holland

What families say:Antoinette uses her initiative and regularly keeps in contact with family who live far away.

Pathe

Ealing

What families say:Pathe has been a godsend, she helped my father very much. We are in the process of moving out of the area but I highly recommend her to anyone. Very knowledgeable and caring person

Anotida

Stoke-on-Trent

What families say:My Dad got on really well with T even though she was only with him for a week