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Live-in & Home Care

Company, conversation, and a reason to get out

Not every kind of care is practical. Sometimes what changes a week most is somebody turning up, sitting down, and having the time to listen.


Loneliness is a health problem, not a soft one

Older people who live alone often manage the practical things perfectly well. What they lose is conversation, routine, and the confidence to go out — and that loss shows up later as poor appetite, low mood and avoidable decline.

Companionship care puts a familiar person in the diary. It might be a walk, a lift to the garden centre, help with a crossword, or simply an hour of proper conversation with somebody who is not in a hurry.

It is also frequently the way families start. Companionship is easier to accept than personal care, and it means someone trusted is already in place if needs change later.

Companionship Care may be right if…

  • Someone lives alone and days go by without conversation
  • Confidence to leave the house has drained away
  • Bereavement has left a house very quiet
  • Family live too far away to visit often
  • Appetite, mood or motivation have quietly dropped off
  • You want someone checking in before things become urgent

Speak to a care advisor

OFFICE HOURS

+44 20 4634 2291

No obligation. Most people who call aren't sure what they need yet.


What a companionship visit looks like

Conversation and company

Time to talk properly — about the family, the news, the past, whatever the person wants.

Getting out and about

Walks, the shops, the library, appointments, a coffee somewhere that isn't the living room.

Hobbies and interests

Cards, crosswords, gardening, music, knitting — keeping hold of the things that make life feel like life.

Meals and company at the table

Cooking together and eating together, which does more for appetite than a plate left on a tray.

Light household help

Tidying, laundry, changing the bed, keeping on top of the post.

A quiet eye on wellbeing

Noticing what family cannot see weekly, and raising it early.


Getting started is simpler than you'd expect

1

Talk to us

A no-pressure conversation about what's happening. No paperwork, no commitment.

2

Free assessment

We visit at a time that suits you and understand the practical detail. TYPICAL DURATION

3

Your care plan

A plan built around the person's routine and goals, agreed with you, and a matched carer.

4

Care begins — and adapts

We review at REVIEW INTERVAL and whenever things change.

Why Bellus

Matched on personality, not just availability

Companionship only works if the two people actually get on. We match on interests, background and temperament — the person who follows the cricket, the person who used to teach, the person who will happily talk about dogs for an hour.

If the match is not right, say so. Changing it is a normal request, not a complaint.

  • Matched, not allocated — on personality and interests as well as skills
  • Thoroughly vettedDBS LEVEL AND REFERENCES
  • Properly trainedINDUCTION AND MANDATORY TRAINING
  • A named care manager and regular reviews
  • Support out of hoursON-CALL ARRANGEMENT

Photo 17Carer walking arm in arm with an older woman along a local high street


What it costs

Cost depends on the level of support needed, so we quote after the free assessment rather than before it. Our quote is the full cost — no agency fees, no hidden charges, and no obligation to proceed.

DECIDE whether to publish rates for this service

Help with funding

  • Local authority funding after a Care Act assessment
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare where needs are primarily health-related
  • Attendance Allowance — not means tested, often unclaimed
  • Personal Health Budgets and direct payments
  • Charitable grants, including condition-specific funds
  • Self-funding
Talk to Us About Funding

Talk to us about companionship care

No pressure, no obligation. Just a conversation about what you need.

Your details are handled in line with our privacy policy.


Common questions

Is companionship care regulated?
Companionship on its own is not a regulated activity, but it sits alongside our regulated services and is delivered by the same trained, vetted staff. CONFIRM CQC registration status and regulated activities
How often can someone visit?
From an hour a week to several visits a day. Most people start small and build up. CONFIRM Bellus minimum visit length
Can the carer drive my relative to appointments?
Usually yes. Transport arrangements, insurance and any mileage charge are agreed in advance. CONFIRM transport and mileage policy
Will it always be the same person?
That is the aim, and it is the point. Holidays and sickness happen, and we cover them with someone already introduced wherever possible.
Can companionship turn into more hands-on care later?
Yes, and it often does. Because the relationship already exists, moving into personal care tends to be far less distressing.
Does my relative have to want this?
Ideally, yes. We will not force a visit on anyone. What often works is framing the first visit as help with a specific task rather than as care.

Let's talk about what would actually help

One conversation, no obligation. We'll tell you honestly if we're not the right fit.