Cost of Overnight Care in the UK

Understand typical overnight care prices, what’s included and how to budget for safe night-time support at home. This guide breaks down night-time home care prices for both sleeping night and waking night care so you can compare options clearly.

Compare sleeping night and waking night care and find trusted overnight carers near you.

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How much does Overnight Care Cost?

Overnight care provides support between roughly 10pm–8am so your loved one stays safe, settled and supervised at home. It’s ideal for people who wake frequently, feel anxious at night, are at risk of falls or live with dementia, pain or mobility problems.

This page explains the typical cost of overnight care in the UK, what affects pricing and what families can expect to be included in a sleeping night or waking night service.

The cost of overnight care in the UK varies depending on the type of night support you choose, how often help is required, the complexity of your loved one’s needs, and where you live. Most families pay between £120 and £240 per night, with sleeping night care being the more affordable option and waking night care costing more due to continuous, awake supervision.

Sleeping night care

£120–£180 per night on average.
The carer sleeps at the property and can be woken 1–2 times.
Best for reassurance, toileting support, fall prevention and occasional waking.

Waking night care

£160–£240+ per night depending on location and duties.
The carer stays awake throughout the night to provide ongoing support.
Ideal for dementia, wandering, pain, frequent waking or complex medical needs.

Independent carers on Curam typically offer more flexible and affordable overnight care rates than traditional home-care agencies, because there are no large agency overheads added on top. You agree the rate directly with your chosen carer, and all payments, contracts and insurance are handled securely through Curam.

What is Included in the Cost of Night Care?

When you pay for overnight care, you are paying for much more than a carer simply being present in the home. Each night includes a full range of support to keep your loved one safe, calm and comfortable.

Bedtime personal care

Help changing into nightwear, brushing teeth, washing and getting comfortable in bed so the evening feels settled and dignified.

Toileting & continence

Discreet support with toileting or continence needs during the night, reducing the risk of falls and accidents.

Reassurance & company

Calm reassurance for anyone who wakes feeling unsettled, anxious or confused, plus friendly company if they can’t get back to sleep.

Support during confusion

Gentle guidance and de-escalation during episodes of disorientation, agitation or dementia-related wandering.

Safe movement at night

Hands-on help moving around the home safely, including transfers, walking to the bathroom and repositioning in bed.

Monitoring & safety checks

Regular quiet checks, plus observation of any changes in health, mood or behaviour that families or healthcare professionals should know about.

Morning start to the day

Help with washing, dressing and getting ready in the morning, so the transition from night to day feels smooth and unhurried.

Extra support in waking nights

For waking night care, carers may also complete quiet household tasks, prepare morning medication and keep brief notes to support relatives and healthcare teams.

Having a clear breakdown of what’s included makes it easier to compare the cost of overnight care between providers and understand exactly what you’re paying for.

What Affects the Cost of Overnight Care?

It’s normal to see different prices when you compare overnight care quotes. Understanding what drives those differences helps you budget and choose the right care package.

Type of overnight care: sleeping nights usually cost less than waking nights because the carer can rest for most of the shift.
Frequency of interruptions: if someone wakes frequently or needs constant supervision, waking night care is often essential.
Health conditions: dementia, Parkinson’s, recovery from surgery and palliative needs all require more skilled support.
Location in the UK: rates tend to be higher in cities and in London than in rural areas.
Carer’s experience: carers with specialist dementia or nursing skills typically charge more.
Duration of the shift: some families need full nights, while others may only require part-night coverage during the busiest hours.

By tailoring the type of overnight care to your exact needs, you can balance safety, comfort and affordability more effectively.

Is Overnight Care Cheaper than a Care Home?

In many cases, overnight care at home is similar in cost or more affordable than a care home—especially when the main concern is night-time safety rather than 24/7 residential support.

Overnight care at home

Typical costs of £120–£240 per night depending on sleeping or waking care.
One-to-one support in familiar surroundings, which can reduce confusion for people with dementia.
Ideal if daytime independence is high but night-time supervision is needed.

Care home place

Weekly residential fees cover accommodation, meals, activities and 24-hour staffing.
Often more expensive overall if the main need is night-time support rather than full-time care.
Less personalised one-to-one care and a move away from home, neighbours and familiar routines.

For older adults who are mainly at risk overnight, the cost of overnight home care is often more reasonable than paying for a full residential placement.

Independent Carers vs Traditional Care Agencies

When arranging overnight care, the type of provider you choose has a major impact on both cost and flexibility. Independent, self-employed carers (like those on Curam) often offer more personalised support at a fairer price, while traditional home-care agencies package services differently and include management fees. Here is how they compare:

Factor

Independent carers

Traditional agencies

Pricing & affordability

You agree the nightly rate directly with your chosen carer, with no signup fee or hidden fees. This makes sleeping night care and waking night care more affordable for many families.

Higher fixed prices due to office costs, management fees, and overheads. Night-time rates are usually less flexible.

Choice & control

View detailed profiles, interview carers directly, and choose the individual who best matches your personality, routines and overnight needs.

Limited choice. The agency selects and assigns carers based on staff availability rather than personal preference.

Consistency of support

You build a long-term relationship with one dedicated overnight carer or a small, consistent rota. This helps reduce confusion for people with dementia or anxiety at night.

Rotating staff schedules mean carers may change frequently. This can affect continuity and make night-time support feel less personal.

Flexibility & scheduling

Flexible start times, part-night options, and the ability to tailor duties — from toileting support to reassurance during frequent waking episodes.

More rigid rotas and shift lengths. Customisation is limited because carers follow agency time blocks and policies.

Safeguarding & vetting

On platforms like Curam, carers are DBS-checked, reference-verified, insured and reviewed, with contracts and payments handled securely.

Agencies handle recruitment and checks but families have less transparency over a carer’s individual experience and background.

Value for families

More personalised, one-to-one overnight care at a fairer cost, with full control over who delivers the support.

A managed service that can be helpful in emergencies, but usually more expensive with less personalised matching.

For many families, independent carers offer a better balance of cost, flexibility and continuity — especially when arranging sleeping night or waking night care for dementia, mobility needs or frequent night-time waking.

Overnight Care for Seniors: who Benefits most?

Night-time support is especially important for older adults whose safety or confidence drops after dark. Families often notice that the evening and overnight hours are when risks and worries increase.

Risk of falls when getting in and out of bed or using the bathroom.
Dementia-related wandering, confusion or “sundowning”.
Reduced mobility or stiffness that makes night-time movement unsafe.
Difficulty getting back to sleep after waking up.
Pain or discomfort that worsens at night.

Families often ask how the cost of overnight care compares to daytime care. While daytime carers usually support more active tasks, awake night carers provide continuous supervision and reassurance, which justifies the hourly rate and can help prevent hospital admissions.

How to Pay for Overnight Care

Depending on your situation, you may be able to receive full or partial funding to help with the cost of overnight care. Many families combine different sources:

Local authority support

After a care needs assessment, your council may contribute towards night care costs or offer a personal budget that can be used to hire Curam carers.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

People with complex medical needs may be eligible for fully funded care packages, including waking night support at home.

Benefits & allowances

Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Carer’s Allowance can help towards the cost of overnight home care.

Direct payments & personal budgets

Receive funds directly from social services or the NHS so you can choose and pay your preferred overnight carers yourself.

Private funding

Some families self-fund overnight care using pensions, savings or equity release, gaining complete flexibility over who they hire and how often.

Curam provides clear digital invoices and care logs, making it easier to evidence night care costs for funding assessments and benefit applications.

How to Arrange Overnight Care at Home

Setting up overnight care through Curam is simple. You stay in control of who you hire, what they do and how much you pay, while we handle contracts, insurance and secure payments.

Share your night-time care needs

Post a brief describing night-time routines, health conditions, how often your loved one wakes and whether you need sleeping or waking night care.

Review experienced overnight carers

Browse detailed profiles with reviews, training, nightly rates and availability. Shortlist carers who specialise in overnight support.

Chat, interview & agree terms

Use Curam Meet video calls or live chat to discuss duties, shift length, sleeping arrangements and the cost of overnight care before you decide.

Start safe night care at home

Once you’re happy, confirm the rota and begin support. Curam issues the contract, tracks hours and releases payments only after visits are confirmed.

Overnight carer supporting an older person at home

Curam carers offering trusted overnight support at home — 6.5 million hours of home care delivered by Curam carers

Why Choose Curam for Overnight Care?

Curam connects you directly with thousands of vetted, self-employed carers across the UK who specialise in night-time support. You choose who comes into your home, agree the cost of overnight care together and keep full control of the rota.

Vetted & insured carers

Every Curam carer is DBS-checked, identity-verified, reference-checked and insured so you can hire overnight care with confidence.

Transparent, flexible pricing

Agree nightly or hourly rates directly with your carer, with no agency margins. See every invoice and timesheet inside your Curam account.

Person-centred night support

You brief the carer yourself so bedtime routines, medication prompts and night-time reassurance are delivered exactly the way your loved one prefers.

Family involvement

Invite relatives to interviews, share secure notes and adjust the night rota together—all from one digital dashboard.

Ready to Explore the Cost of Overnight Care?

Share a few details about your loved one’s night-time needs and we’ll help you connect with vetted overnight carers near you.

Compare rates, chat securely, agree responsibilities and start safe, personalised night care at home.

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Cost of Overnight Care FAQs

What is the average cost of overnight care at home?

Most families pay between £120–£180 per night for sleeping night care and £160–£240+ per night for waking night care, depending on location, duties and the carer’s experience. Complex or nursing-level night care is usually charged at a higher hourly rate.

Is overnight care cheaper than a care home?

For people who mainly need support at night, overnight home care is often more cost-effective than paying for a full residential or nursing home placement. You only pay for the hours of night-time support you need, while your loved one remains in familiar surroundings.

What’s the difference between sleeping night and waking night care?

In a sleeping night role, the carer has a bed and can be woken 1–2 times if needed. In a waking night role, the carer stays awake all night to provide active support and continuous monitoring, which is more suitable for dementia, wandering, frequent waking or complex health needs.

Can I get funding for overnight care?

Yes, some people receive help through Local Authority support, NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), direct payments, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Our clear invoices and care logs can help evidence costs for funding assessments.

Do Curam carers provide overnight dementia care?

Many Curam carers specialise in dementia and Alzheimer’s support, including night-time reassurance, wandering prevention and managing confusion. You can filter carers by dementia experience when searching.

How quickly can overnight care be arranged?

In urgent situations, families often connect with suitable overnight carers within 24–72 hours. Once you’ve posted your requirement, you can chat, interview and confirm a start date directly with your chosen carer.

Overnight care across the UK

Find Overnight Carers in your Area

Curam’s network of carers provides sleeping night and waking night support nationwide. Enter your postcode to see overnight carers near you, filtered by experience, conditions, language and skills.

London Birmingham Manchester Leeds Liverpool Bristol Nottingham Sheffield Glasgow Edinburgh Cardiff Leicester Coventry Southampton Portsmouth Derby Newcastle Bournemouth

We cover thousands of towns and villages beyond these examples—share your postcode to see overnight carers available in your immediate area.