CCH Group, the UK’s largest home care provider, is calling for greater awareness of care options, as too many families are left with limited choices in a system that should support informed decisions. One such option is live-in care, offering full-time, one-to-one support in the comfort and familiarity of a person’s own home.

Despite overwhelming public preference to age at home, thousands of people in the UK are entering care homes each year without realising they had another option. CCH Group, which offers one of the broadest ranges of care services in the country, is committed to making sure every individual receives the type of care that fits them best. One approach with untapped potential is live-in care, delivered through one of their specialist providers Noble Live-In Care.

New research shows that 97% of people would prefer to receive care at home, yet only around 10,000 people in England currently access live-in care. In contrast, more than 400,000 live in residential care settings.

According to Noble Live-In Care, this gap isn’t caused by affordability or demand, but by a lack of awareness at key decision points, especially during hospital discharge and care planning.

“This is a quiet crisis playing out in hospitals, homes and care assessments across the country,” said Kirsty Prendiville Lawes, Operations Manager at Noble Live-In Care.

She continues:

“Care is still a difficult subject in our culture and one many avoid until a decision is forced. That silence means families often don’t hear about the full range of care options, even though the appetite for clear, compassionate guidance is huge.
Some people may thrive in residential settings. But for those who would prefer to stay at home, and deserve the choice, it’s vital they know that live-in care is a viable option.”

“The worst part was thinking I had no choice”

Jennifer, 90, one of thousands whose care journey was shaped more by a lack of information than personal choice.

“I’d had a stroke and needed more help, but I didn’t want to move into a care home,” she said. “I didn’t know live-in care existed. No one told me.”

Her daughter remembers that after a hospital stay, all they kept hearing was “care home.” It was only later they discovered live-in care was even an option.

“I love the live-in care I have now with Noble,” Jennifer added. “I can still do everything I enjoy. I’m free to live how I want.”

With a national network that includes residential, visiting, complex and live-in care, CCH Group believes support should be built around the individual. Live-in care is one part of this wider offer and could make a life-changing difference for many more families.

Too often, live-in care is excluded from conversations, even when it would clearly meet a person’s needs and wishes. With up to 290,000 people in England self-funding their care, and 87% of older adults living in homes with two or more bedrooms, live-in care is both practical and achievable for many.

A Proven Solution, Hiding in Plain Sight

Live-in care provides one-to-one, round-the-clock support in people’s own homes. It preserves routine, independence and quality of life, while helping to ease pressure on NHS services, local authorities and care homes.

Yet it is still rarely offered. Live-in care is often left out of hospital discharge plans and not routinely explained by professionals, despite being comparable in cost to residential care and eligible for local authority funding.

Providers like Noble Live-In Care can place a care professional within 24 hours, supporting faster discharge and reducing unnecessary hospital stays. But the model remains underused.

Calling for Change

Noble Live-In Care is urging a national push to raise awareness and improve access. Their recommendations include:

Including live-in care in hospital discharge and care planning
Updating training for social workers and professionals
Running national awareness campaigns
Providing accessible, impartial guidance to families before a crisis
“We need to reframe how care is talked about – not as the end of independence but as the beginning of a new chapter,” said Prendiville.

“Live-in care gives people the chance to stay where they feel most themselves, surrounded by everything that matters. That’s not just better care; it’s the right care.”