Live-In Care at Home — 24/7 Support in Familiar Surroundings
Zento provides nurse-led live-in care across Edinburgh, Lothian and Perthshire. Every care arrangement is assessed and overseen by a registered nurse, ensuring your loved one receives clinical-standard care in the comfort and dignity of their own home.
What is live-in care?
Live-in care is support that extends into the night, not just through the day — a genuine alternative to moving into a care home. Instead of your loved one relocating to an unfamiliar residential setting, care comes to them, delivered by carers who know their routine, their preferences and their home.
It suits people who need more than daytime visits can provide: those with complex or unpredictable needs, higher falls risk, dementia-related night-time confusion, or simply a level of reassurance that comes from knowing someone capable is always close by.
Live-in care isn't one fixed package. It ranges from overnight-only support layered onto daytime visits, through to a full round-the-clock team for the highest-need situations.
Which type of live-in care is right for your family?
Zento offers two distinct forms of live-in care, and the right one depends on how much support is genuinely needed overnight and beyond.
Overnight Care
A trained carer present through the night — either a sleep-in carer, available if woken, or a waking-night carer, alert and monitoring throughout.
24-Hour Home Care
A small team of carers working rotating shifts, so someone is always fully awake and alert — day and night, with no gaps.
Looking for hourly or daytime-only visits instead of live-in support?
See our visiting home care servicesSigns your loved one may need 24-hour live-in support
Recognising when visiting care is no longer sufficient and around-the-clock presence is required.
Sign 1
Increased risk of nighttime falls, restlessness, or wandering around the house.
Sign 2
Complex health conditions requiring frequent monitoring, repositioning, or clinical routines.
Sign 3
Progressive dementia leading to nighttime confusion, anxiety, or safety concerns.
Sign 4
Difficulty managing alone during mornings, mealtimes, and evenings despite visiting care.
Sign 5
Discharge from hospital with high rehabilitation or recovery care needs.
Sign 6
Family members needing peace of mind that a dedicated carer is always present.
Noticing two or more of these signs?
Our nurse-led team can visit your parent at home in Edinburgh or Perthshire to carry out an honest, clinical evaluation.
Live-in care vs a care home — what's actually different
Cost is usually the first question families ask, and the honest answer is that live-in care is often more cost-effective than people assume — particularly for couples. Because one carer can support two people living together, live-in care frequently works out considerably cheaper than two separate care home places.
Consistency is the other major difference. In a care home, residents are typically supported by a large, frequently rotating staff team across different shifts. Live-in care means one or two familiar carers, matched specifically to your loved one.
Our nursing team will always give an honest view — including if live-in care isn't the right fit — rather than steer every conversation toward a sale.
“Our nursing team will always tell you what's actually right for your family — even if that means live-in care isn't the answer. Honesty matters more than making a sale.
How to arrange live-in care with Zento
Free Consultation
Call us or complete our enquiry form. A conversation about your loved one's situation — no pressure, no commitment.
Nursing Assessment
A registered nurse assesses what's genuinely needed. We look honestly at whether overnight support or full 24-hour care is the right fit.
Carer Match
We match a carer or build a team. Carers are matched for compatibility, not just availability, and briefed thoroughly.
Care Begins
Care begins, with regular nurse review. Support starts on an agreed schedule. Our nursing team reviews the arrangement regularly.
What families say about Zento's live-in care
Real experiences from families across Edinburgh, Lothian, and Perthshire whose loved ones thrive with round-the-clock live-in care.
“Care homes for both parents would have cost nearly double. One live-in carer let them stay in the house they've had for forty years. Not perfect every day, but right for them.”
Fiona L.
Edinburgh
“Dad's dementia and a care home felt like a bad fit. One familiar carer at home works better than a rotating ward team for him.”
Robert T.
Crieff, Perthshire
“Live-in care is a big step and a big cost. Mum's carer is capable and kind. We still visit a lot, but it's good knowing someone's there overnight.”
Catherine B.
East Lothian
Where we provide live-in care
Zento provides nurse-led live-in care across Edinburgh and the Lothians from our Edinburgh office, and across Perthshire from our Crieff office.
Find detailed coverage and local team information for your area:
Frequently asked questions about live-in care
How does live-in care work on a day-to-day basis?
A dedicated carer resides in a private guest room in your loved one's home. They assist with morning routines, meal preparation, medication prompting, mobility, domestic support, and evening companionship, allowing your relative to maintain complete autonomy.
How is live-in care different from a residential care home?
Live-in care provides 1-to-1 dedicated attention in familiar home surroundings, tailored solely to your loved one's preferences, without the disruption or routine restrictions of a communal care facility.
What facilities does a live-in carer require?
A live-in carer requires their own private bedroom with clean bedding, storage for personal belongings, and access to a bathroom and cooking facilities.
How does nurse oversight work with live-in care?
Our registered nurses conduct initial clinical assessments, formulate detailed care protocols, conduct carer matching, and perform regular supervisory home visits to monitor client health.
Explore our live-in care options
Learn more about each type of live-in care, or explore our visiting home care services for daytime-only support.
Overnight Care
Sleep-in or waking-night support through the dark hours so your loved one is never unsafe.
Learn more24-Hour Home Care
Continuous round-the-clock support delivered by a small rotating team of carers.
Learn moreSpeak to our team about live-in care
Whether you need overnight support or full round-the-clock care, our nursing team can help you find the right fit — with no pressure and no obligation.
No pressure. No obligation. Honest advice from our registered nurses.