Help that fits around your life — day or night.
A caregiver who arrives at an agreed time and supports with everyday routines, then heads off when the visit's done. Visiting care is the most flexible format — from a single hour a week to several visits a day, plus waking-night blocks for clients who need someone awake overnight. Book on demand or on a regular schedule. Every visit is billed by the hour.
What’s included
- From a single hour up to multiple visits a day
- Personal care: washing, dressing, toileting
- Medication prompts and reminders
- Meal preparation and feeding support
- Companionship calls — a friendly chat and a cuppa
- School pickups and after-school childcare
- Help getting out — appointments, shopping, walks
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Waking-night visits — carer stays awake throughout the overnight block (billed hourly)
- Same caregiver for recurring visits where possible
- Real-time check-in and check-out so families know they've arrived
Caregiver credentials we look for
Caregiver credentials are self-declared at sign-up and verified against background-check vendor data. Specific verification varies by jurisdiction.
Frequently asked
How are visiting carers paid?+
Visits are billed by the hour at the rate set by the caregiver — typically from £18/hour in the UK and $25/hour in the US. SpecialCarer's 30% service fee is added on top. Final price is shown clearly before you confirm a booking.
What's the minimum visit length?+
One hour for recurring weekly visits with a caregiver you've used before. Three hours for a first booking with a new caregiver, so they have time to learn the routines properly.
Can I book multiple visits in a single day?+
Yes — many families book a morning visit (wash, breakfast, medication), a lunch visit, and a teatime visit. You can build a recurring weekly schedule with as many slots as you need, and caregivers bid for the schedule that fits them.
Will it be the same caregiver every visit?+
We try hard to keep continuity, especially for elderly clients where consistency matters. For recurring schedules you'll typically have a primary caregiver and one or two backup caregivers who cover holidays and sickness.
How do I know the caregiver actually turned up?+
Every shift has a real-time check-in and check-out logged in the app. You and any nominated family member get a notification when the caregiver arrives and when they leave. Each visit is timestamped and visible in your dashboard.
Do you offer waking-night visits?+
Yes. A waking-night visit is an overnight block — typically 9pm–7am or similar — where the caregiver stays awake throughout to support clients who need active care at night (for example dementia wandering risk, post-operative recovery, seizure monitoring, or complex care). Waking-night visits are billed by the hour like any other visit, often at a slightly higher overnight rate the caregiver sets on their profile. This is different from live-in waking nights, which are included in the live-in weekly rate.
What's the difference between a waking-night visit and a sleeping night?+
On a waking night the carer is up and active throughout the block — billed hourly. A sleeping night is only available as part of a live-in placement: the carer sleeps in your home and is paid a flat night allowance, with up to two short wake-ups included. If you need someone awake every night without a full live-in arrangement, book waking-night visits instead.
Can the same person also do live-in work?+
Yes — many caregivers offer both. On their profile you'll see a weekly rate for live-in placements alongside their hourly visiting rate.