Home care costs in Bedford
Hourly and live-in rates for 2026, from the agencies that publish them. Updated as agencies confirm their prices.
There are 73 home care agencies registered with the CQC in Bedford, East of England, and agencies based in neighbouring areas cover it too. 1 has an hourly rate on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
Across the East of England the typical weekday hourly rate is £27.98, so two one-hour visits a day comes to about £392 a week. Expect agencies in Bedford to fall in a similar range until more of them publish their rates.
Live-in care, one carer living in with breaks covered, is priced per week. Across the East of England the typical live-in rate is £1,593 a week, and once you need more than about 35 hours a week it is usually cheaper than visits.
Compare with a carer you choose through PrimeCarers
About £392 a week for two one-hour visits a day
Live-in care £1,593 a week
A self-employed carer you chooseTypically £20, about £280 a week for the same visits
Your own carer could cost about £112 a week less, £5,809 over a year
Live-in care near Bedford typically £1,050 a week.
PrimeCarers runs this site. Carers on it are self-employed and set their own rates. Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check within the last 2 years, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them.
Home care agencies in Bedford with a rate on record
| Agency | Office | CQC | From, an hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own carer through PrimeCarers For comparison. Self-employed, they set their own rate | Near Bedford | Not an agency | £18 |
| Samorem Health Care Dementia | Bedford | CQC: Good | £22.15 |
“From” is the lowest weekday hourly rate the agency has published or confirmed to us, dated on each agency’s page. Agencies that add or correct a rate appear here within the day.
How Bedford compares with nearby areas
Worth knowing: agencies based in these areas often cover Bedford too.
| Council area | Hourly, weekdays | Live-in, a week | Agencies with rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bedfordshire | £26.90 | £1,400 | 4 |
| Milton Keynes | £27 | £1,350 | 7 |
| Luton | £25 | £1,200 | 3 |
| West Northamptonshire | £21.75 | £1,150 | 4 |
| North Northamptonshire | £23 | £1,188 | 9 |
| Cambridgeshire | £28 | £1,563 | 7 |
What the rate includes
An agency’s hourly rate in Bedford pays the carer, the office that plans the rota, travel between visits, training, insurance and a margin. Weekends and bank holidays usually cost more, short visits cost more per hour, and some agencies add mileage for visits far from the office.
Ask for the full price list: weekday and weekend rates, the shortest visit they do, and the cancellation terms. Rates are reviewed once a year, usually in April.
Who pays in Bedford
If you have more than £23,250 in savings you will normally pay yourself. Below that, Bedford council assesses what you can contribute; your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and choose your own agency or carer.
People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole cost at home.
Full guides: who pays, and when the council helps, direct payments and Continuing Healthcare at home.
Agency or your own carer in Bedford?
Self-employed carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour and set their own rates, against the typical the East of England agency rate of £27.98. The same carer comes each time and you agree the hours between you. Live-in care is typically £1,050 a week near Bedford.
Common questions
How much does home care in Bedford cost an hour?
We do not yet have three published rates in Bedford, so the best guide is the the East of England figure of £27.98 an hour and £1,593 a week for live-in care. Ask each agency for a written price list.
How much does home care in Bedford cost a week?
At £27.98 an hour, one visit a day is about £196 a week, two visits a day about £392, and three about £588. Live-in care is about £1,593 a week. Most agencies raise rates once a year, in April.
What is the cheapest home care agency in Bedford?
Samorem Health Care in Bedford has the lowest published rate we hold for Bedford, from £22.15 an hour. The full table on this page lists every agency with a rate on record, cheapest first.
Will Bedford council pay for home care?
If your savings are below £23,250, Bedford council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the cost. The value of your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and spend it with the agency or carer you choose; if they charge more than the council's rate you pay the difference. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is a self-employed carer cheaper than an agency in Bedford?
Usually. Carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour against the typical the East of England agency rate of £27.98, and live-in care is typically £1,050 a week near Bedford. You choose the carer and the same person comes each time.
Rates last checked October 2026.