Live-in Care Changes people's lives
"We provide a much better alternative to the common option of a care home institution: staying in the comfort and familiarity of your own home! Like the many thousands of our clients over the past sixty two years, you can receive the care you need whilst maintaining your existing lifestyle”. Peter Seldon, CEO, Consultus Care & Nursing
We give you complete peace of mind..
If you are concerned for the health and wellbeing of your mother or father, or both of them, and are trying to find the best care option for them, we are here to help.
If you are a spouse that is caring for your loved-one at home, we are here to help.
If your loved-one has recently been discharged from hospital or is in any case in need of care and rehabilitation, we are here to help.
If you are in a difficult & worrying situation, and urgently need help, we can provide care & peace of mind very quickly.
CONSULT WITH US
We have highly experienced Triage Care Consultants available on the telephone, who thoroughly understand the three different care services available. They can advise and help you. This consultation is completely free of charge and provided without obligation.
Call us now on 01732 355231
What does Consultus Care & Nursing do?
If you or a member of your family wish to continue living independently at home, but need help to do so, Consultus Care and Nursing deliver exceptional live-in care and live-in nursing services, reassurance and support. Our specialist live-in carers and live-in nurses are on-hand, in your home, 24/7.
Consultus Care & Nursing has been established for over 60 years, and is a family-run provider of outstanding live-in carers and live-in nurses, offering 24-hour, personalised, private live-in care and live-in nursing, in your own home. We cover locations throughout the UK, meaning that wherever you are, we can provide live-in care and live-in nursing for you.
Since our family-led firm was established in 1962, we have stayed true to the vision of our founder, the late Mrs Anne Stevens, who knew that people feel better at home.
Our live-in carers and live-in nurses ensure hundreds of elderly and vulnerable people remain happy and secure in their own homes, among their cherished belongings and memories.
Why Consultus Care & Nursing?
We know you have a choice, and that there are many other care providers that you might be talking to. But Consultus is different: we are truly unique and special. If you want complete peace of mind that you have made the best decision, choose Consultus Care & Nursing for the following reasons, amongst many others.
Our Reputation & Expertise
Our reputation is unrivalled. We are simply the best Live-In Care Provider in the UK for the following reasons:
Family-Owned
Consultus continues to be family-owned and family run. We are the largest, wholly family-owned live-in care provider in the United Kingdom.
Over 60 Years
Our heritage stretches back over 60 years, when Anne Stevens started Consultus in 1962. We passionately follow her vision and conviction that 'people feel better at home.'
Our Mission
We remain true to our founder's vision and mission. It is why we do what we do. We see every day the difference we and our carers make to people's lives.
Centre of Excellence Training
All our carers are trained at our multiple award-winning training centre.
Our Staff
We have the most caring, bright and hard-working people, many of whom have been with us for many years, who regularly go above and beyond for our clients and carers.
A Choice of Services
No other live-in care provider offers the choice of service that Consultus does. We offer 3 distinct services, depending on client needs.
Quality of Care
Our clients come first and the standards and level of care they receive is at the highest level.
Our family-owned care and nursing company, competing in the real world has a clear ethos. We always put our clients first, understanding the responsibility that a private care and nursing company has towards its patients. Our highly trained carers and nurses are available to support clients and their families across the whole of the UK, with flexible one-on-one care that keeps vulnerable people comfortable in their own homes where independent research confirms they are happiest, and most familiar with their surroundings and thus fall less, and where the appreciating value of the family home can be flexibly used to finance live in care.
Hear from one of our clients and our CEO
David talks about his experience of Consultus Care & Nursing. David's father needed care but wanted to stay in the comfort of his own home. Also, hear from Peter Seldon, Consultus's CEO.
Why Live-In Care?
Avoid upheavel, stress & upset.
There is trauma and anxiety with leaving and moving out of home. It is dramatic and unfair to many people to change their familiar and comfortable living arrangements at this point in their lives. The best quality of life is at home.
Adaptable Care Service
The care service should adapt to the person. Live-in Care provides personalised care, ensuring the best mental and physical health for the client. Care homes and institutions are much less able to be adaptable - it's one-size-fits-all care rather than personalised care.
Remain in your familiar surroundings
Continue to live in your home among familiar people, furniture and surroundings. There is no 'change' with Live-In Care. Things are as they have always been. Remain with your spouse, with your pets. Continue as you always have.
Be comfortable & secure
Live-In Care means people feel comfortable & secure in their home, in their familiar surroundings.
They can maintain their independence and dignity and continue to have control over their day-to-day living.
Choose how you spend your day
Choose how you spend your day, rather than following a set routine. Invite your friends and family over as and when you feel like it – with no set visiting hours to worry about.
Choose what and when you eat, rather than following a set menu. Continue to take part in the activities you enjoy, rather than being restricted by travel and timings.
Hand-picked, carefully matched carers and nurses.
Enjoy the one-to-one company of a Live-in Carer or Live-in Nurse who has been hand-picked for you and build a meaningful, personal relationship, instead of being cared for by a larger number of sometimes unfamiliar care home staff. They have companionship as well as 24/7 care which care increase their well-being and the feelings of being comfortable, happy & secure.
Live-in Care is safer
There is less chance of cross-infection, less chance of hip fractures or other injuries. People are in the best and safest possible place when they are cared for at home
Remain connected to family & pets
With Live-in Care clients can remain connected. They can keep their pets and it is easier to see their family as it is much more convenient for family to visit. There are no ‘visiting hours’ with Live-In Care.
Physical health is better
Live-In carers are much more likely to spot if something is not right or is potentially heading in a bad direction. With Consultus’s own technology (Consultus Connect) assisting and supporting the carer with biometrics and AI (coming soon) and predictive analytics. Live-In Care gives peace of mind that clients are receiving the very best care and attention
Live-in Care is significantly better for those with Dementia.
For Dementia sufferers, there is no question that being at home in familiar surroundings is by far the best option. The stress and trauma of being moved into an institution, placed into unfamiliar surroundings is very likely to accelerate the symptoms of dementia.
Peace of mind as a family
Live-In Care means families can have peace of mind in making the best decision for their loved ones. Peace of mind that their relative is safe, well and happy. There will be no feelings of guilt about placing their loved one into an institution. Deep down we know all know it is not the best option and it is not fair or kind.
Live-in Care is more cost-effective than you may think
Value for money - although costs are similar to care institutions, the value for money is hugely different with live-in care.
Moreover, the cost for live-in care for a couple is significantly less than for two people in a care home.
Live-In Care Vs Care Institutions:
Sue Cook talking with Julia Hartley-Brewer on TalkRADIO.
What Our Clients Say About Consultus
I just wanted to write to thank you so much for sending us Cheryl. She is beyond fabulous… kind, gentle, hard working, efficient, intelligent, and knowledgeable … and of course trained by the best Care Agency!
Catharine
The care our lovely mum received from your lovely Consultus ladies was outstanding.
Andrew
Rosy was amazing and was a great support to mum and the whole family for the last couple of months and especially in the last week when mum became increasingly frail. Her caring and compassion at this difficult time has been invaluable to the family and also the experience in dealing with a family member passing. On behalf of the family, thank you once again.
John
My sincere thanks to all at Consultus for providing a wonderful crew of carers, several of whom I feel have become firm friends.
Anthony
Without doubt, Consultus has delivered some amazing carers and Polyana has been so supportive in the most stressful week. Over the last 18 months you have all been so lovely and professional and allowed our mother to spend time at home which has been so important to my mother and us as a family.
Jean
I would like to express my thanks for the many years of support that Consultus gave her, notably through your carers and, of them, Sue first and foremost. Anyone who in future has Sue as a carer will be lucky indeed - she showed my mother extraordinary kindness, love and care for many years, all with the utmost patience.
Dominic
Thanks a million for all your help over the past year and a half. You organised, with great care, a team of wonderful carers to support my father to care for my Mother. It was so reassuring knowing we were sent such special carers and it definitely made my life so much easier. I could be a daughter rather than a carer.
THANK YOU.
Louise
I just wanted to thank everyone at Consultus for all you have done over the last year which allowed my mother to spend another year in her home. Logistics were always challenging but you managed and the quality of care she got made such a difference. Thank you.
David
Consultus is a great organisation and has been brilliant at organising all the Carers to look after my father. With their care and attention he made it to 102 years old - a very good innings! He couldn’t have managed that without them!
Angela
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and everyone at Consultus for supporting our mother Mary over the past three years. Your service has been absolutely exemplary. Every carer you have sent us has been compassionate, kind, knowledgable - simply outstanding. Thank you Jane for listening so kindly to Oliver and I, and going out of your way to enable us support Mary in the way we all wanted.
Catherine
We have been extremely happy with the service that Consultus has provided to my mother over the last couple of years.
All the carers you sent to look after my mother have been exemplary but I would like to say how much I appreciated the kindness and respect that Fiona and Cheryl showed my mother, particularly in the last two weeks.
Sarah
I just thought I would let you know how very satisfied we were with all the carers provided by Consultus. So thank you to all for their wonderful care, enabling my mum to stay in her beloved home, which she didn’t want to leave, and, as it turned out, never had to.
Hazel
Please thank all of the team on our behalf, we’re particularly grateful to the back office crew for making sure Dad had a consistent team, and for reacting when he needed to double up. In all our experience of care, firstly with my mother, then Dad and now my aunt Judy, Consultus have been, by some distance, the best. Oliver
Our carers have been so calm and caring, immensely kind and patient and have such a gentle and wise approach to each new situation that arises. They provide beautifully nutritious and attractive meals and have been instrumental in facilitating my parents eating regularly and thereby improving their well-being. I am so grateful.
Caroline
** These are just SOME of the messages and feedback we received from clients over just one month, late in 2023. We have thousands of similar messages and letters from clients' families going back over many years. **
Uniquely for Live-In Care;
Consultus offers a choice of three services:
No other live-in care provider offers the three choices of live-in care service, depending on client needs, that Consultus does : care from introduced agency carers - subject to family or local oversight, CQC-rated, Fully Managed Care and CQC-rated managed Nursing Care.
Introductory Care Service
This is our longest-established service, offering the most cost-effective live-in care option to clients who have a family member or relative nearby.
Consultus introduce our agency carers to clients and continually liaise closely with the client or client’s representative to arrange bookings and ensure that the expectations the carer, client and client’s family / representative are met.
Fully Managed Care Service
This is our CQC regulated, fully-managed service, established as an alternative to the Introductory Service option.
All the advantages of the Introductory Service are very much present, together with the additional advice & support from a Consultus Regional Consultant, who will manage all elements of the care service, thus relieving the client, their family or representative, from such responsibilities.
Live-in Nursing
Our live-in nurses are trained and experienced in dealing with specific health conditions and are assigned based on their particular areas of expertise. Our Nurse Coordinators carefully match our live-in nurses with our clients to ensure a good relationship with the client is fostered from an early stage.
With the continuous monitoring that comes with one-on-one nursing, it is always reassuring for the entire family to know that a skilled and professional live-in nurse is there when needed. If you or a relative have any serious health concerns or have had a terminal diagnosis, a live-in nurse may be the best solution for everyone involved.
Speak to our friendly, highly experienced Triage Team.
Veryan
Triage Care Consultant
Julia
Triage Care Consultant
Carolyn
Triage Care Consultant
Louise
Triage Care Consultant
Jessica
Triage Care Consultant
Phone us on 01732 355231
Anne Stevens - our founder and visionary.
Anne started Consultus in 1962.
She is why we do what we do.
Consultus continues to be family-owned and family-run.
We have a strong, caring, family ethos, looking after our clients' families and their loved ones in their own home. It is our reason for being.
And we have Anne Stevens to thank.
Just some of our awards & accreditations
Our Consultus Carers
AWARD-WINNING TRAINING AT CONSULTUS
Ensuring our carers are the very best carers for our clients is our highest priority. Over many years we have grown and developed our own, in-house, award-winning, training centre.
Our training centre has the Centre of Excellence Award from Skills for Care : the national training body with the remit to set care training curricula in the UK
We are the only care company, as distinct from educational institutions, to receive this award in the UK.
All our carers are trained at our multiple award winning training centre which is also accredited by the diploma awarding body : Pearson Edexcel.
And if our carers do not pass their in-house training with us, we will not place them with our clients.
The Consultus Care Training Centre is committed to providing the highest quality carer training. Our expert team of trainers have all worked in the care and nursing profession and we use our wealth of knowledge and experience to provide carers with a valuable insight into caring; building their confidence, skills and knowledge as they train in new areas.
Our care training courses include an induction course for new carers, annual update training and a wide range of virtual and e-learning courses. We are also a Pearson accredited centre approved to offer the nationally recognised Level 2 Diploma in Care and the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care.
Consultus is known as the leading live-in care provider in the UK. We are often asked to appear on television and radio, as industry experts, to discuss important issues facing the care sector.
Our CEO, Peter Seldon, is often asked to appear on TV news and radio. Whenever there are issues facing the care sector more generally, or Government policy news, with our expertise and experience, our opinion and advice is sought after by the media.
Below is Peter Seldon, on Sky News during the Covid pandemic.
How to Fund Live-In Care?
We understand that any kind of private care service is expensive. We cannot provide financial advice but we can pass on some guidance as to how many of our clients fund their care.
Questions we are often asked:
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Is Live-In Care more expensive than a care home?
You may be surprised that the cost of private Live-in Care can compare favourably to some care homes. Our costs are transparent and your individual needs are discussed in detail with our dedicated New Client Care Consultants. Consultus doesn’t have any hidden extras.
Our services are especially cost-effective for couples who need assistance, and Live-in Care means you get to stay together. We are always greatly saddened to hear about couples who are separated at times when they need each other more than ever. Consultus want you to live the life you wish for, in your own homes, with your loved-ones at your side.
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How can I fund my parents' live-in care without selling their property and moving them into a care home?
There are many other options than selling property. Please read the report below by the Live-In Care Hub, in which Consultus Care & Nursing are a founding member.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a live-in carer do?
A live-in carer will stay with you and provide you with 24/7 support and care that is tailored to your individual needs. They can help with personal care, medication, household tasks and complex care.
How much does live-in care cost?
Live-in care starts at £97 for a single client or £112 for couples. For couples it is considerably less than the cost of two residential care home fees, a large saving on the overall cost of care. There may be care funding available to you from your local authority depending on your financial circumstances and care needs. Visit our Live-In Care Costs page for more information.
Do carers need their own room?
Yes, a live-in carer will require their own bedroom while they stay with you. It is important that a carer has their own space where they can relax and sleep while they are not working.
What support does the carer provide?
Carers provide different levels of support, depending on the client’s needs, priorities and preferences. Duties typically include:
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Personal care work – dressing, washing, showering, bathing, oral care, hair care, shaving, continence care and toileting
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Assisting with mobility – transferring from bed to chair, for instance
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General housework, shopping, cooking, laundry and cleaning
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Companionship, emotional support, help with social activities and outings
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Help with looking after family pets
How do I book a live-in carer?
Simply call us on 01732 355 231 and speak with our Triage Care Consultants
Can live-in carers assist with medical conditions?
Live-in carers can support with some medical conditions. However, for support with more advanced medical conditions we would recommend booking a Consultus live-in nurse.
How do you choose a live-in carer for me?
We take your individual care needs, concerns, preferences and personality into account when assigning carers. Once we have asked you the relevant questions we will review our available carers, matching their experience and expertise to your care needs as well as their likes and dislikes to ensure they are the best fit for you and your needs.
What happens once a booking has been made?
We will send you a confirmation letter and you can speak with the carer we assign over the phone. We check with both carer and client that all is well and ask you for your feedback.
How many hours per day do the carers work?
Live-in carers typically work seven days a week for a period of two weeks at a time. Whilst there are no specified hours of work, in each 24-hour period a carer would need 8 hours for sleep. We also ask, where possible, that the carer is given up to two hours off each day, preferably as a single break. Each booking is unique and your carer will work with you to accommodate your needs where possible.
Can we have care occasionally?
Yes, bookings can be occasional, infrequent and short-term. For a minimum of 3 days. Please discuss your requirements with our New Client (Triage) Care Consultants.
Can you provide visiting carers for an hour a day?
Unfortunately not; we specialise in 24/7 live-in care and nursing. If you decide you do not need a live-in carer, we recommend that any visiting healthcare assistant bookings are made through a fellow member of the United Kingdom Home Care Association. Please call UKHCA on 020 8661 8188.
Will the carer cook, clean and undertake household chores?
The main role of a carer is client care and wellbeing, but they are also able to help with the smooth running of the home, so light housekeeping, laundry, cooking, driving and shopping duties are included in the domestic duties; each can be included where personal care needs allow.
I’m unsure about having someone living in my home – will the carer be unobtrusive?
Our clients tell us that while it sometimes feels a little odd initially to have a new person staying in their home, that feeling quickly fades away – and is infinitely preferable to moving to the institutional environment of a care home, which can be impersonal and unfamiliar.
Our carers are reliable, discreet, friendly and committed to the physical and emotional wellbeing of their clients. They operate in a professional, polite, dependable and confidential manner, and always respect the homes and privacy of clients.
Can we postpone the start of care or interrupt the service for a short time?
We completely understand that unforeseen circumstances can mean the need to postpone a confirmed booking, or even arrange a break in the service. Please call our Care Consultants on 01732 355231 as soon as any unavoidable changes in circumstance arise.
Do you provide live-in carers and care at home to all areas of the UK?
Yes, we do, depending on the service you choose. Please see our Areas We Cover page for more information. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our New Client Care Consultants and they will identify the best service matched to your particular needs and location.
Can I interview the carers?
It’s not possible to meet the carer we assign face to face before your booking starts. However, once we have confirmed the booking there will be an opportunity to speak to your carer – this is when arrival and changeover arrangements can also be discussed.
How do you find your carers?
Most of our carers come through personal recommendation, our Recruitment Department at head office and via our Overseas Agents in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Spain.
How do you vet your carers?
All carers have an online interview and then a face to face interview. We check all documentation, take professional references and process a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure. All professional references are followed up with police checks from the carer’s country of origin. All our carers go through our in-house Centre of Excellence Training Centre.
Can carers deal effectively with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease?
Many of our carers are experienced in helping people with all types of dementia and its associated challenges, such as memory loss, confusion or problems with speech and understanding. We give our carers a wider understanding of dementia and its symptoms with our in-house dementia training courses.
The need for routine and familiarity for people with dementia is well established. Our carers help clients retain their sense of identity, self-worth and security by caring for them in the most comfortable environment possible – their own home. They enable better communication and engagement in activities and provide a stable, stress-free consistency of care that forms a regular routine.
I would like to have the same carers returning. Can you arrange this?
Yes, many of our clients have favourite carers, and we try to arrange a rota of regular carers wherever possible.
How do live-in care costs compare to residential care home fees?
The cost for a live-in carer for a single client is typically less than residential care home or nursing home fees. Where a couple wishes to remain at home together, it is possible they could both be cared for by a single Consultus live-in carer and pay considerably less than combined residential fees.
We are more than happy to give you a no-obligation quotation over the telephone. Please contact our New Client (Triage) Care Consultants on 01732 355231.
Is there funding available for private home care and is it available on the NHS?
You’ll find lots of information, including a free guide to financing private care, on our dedicated Live-In Care Costs page.