Choosing between Live-In Care vs 24-Hour Hourly Care in Seattle? For families navigating senior care, understanding the difference can make all the difference—financially, emotionally, and practically.

Why 24/7 Support Is Often Needed in Seattle

Whether your loved one is recovering from surgery, has dementia, or simply can’t be left alone, round-the-clock care may become necessary. Seattle families often reach this point after a fall, ICU stay, or increasing nighttime confusion.

But when you need 24/7 help at home, you typically face two choices:

• Live-in care – One caregiver lives in the home, sleeps overnight, and provides help throughout the day.

• 24-hour hourly care – Multiple caregivers rotate in shifts to provide constant awake care.

Let’s compare them.

What Is Live-In Care?

Live-in care involves one dedicated caregiver who resides in the home (usually with a private sleeping area). They:

• Provide daytime support for meals, hygiene, medications, mobility, and supervision

• Are on call at night, but usually get a 6–8 hour sleep break

• May work several days in a row, with a second caregiver rotating in

Benefits of Live-In Care:

• Lower cost than 24-hour hourly care

• Consistent caregiver builds trust and routine

• Ideal for stable needs like companionship, fall monitoring, and light dementia care

• More affordable long-term solution for Seattle families

Considerations:

• Must provide a private room and sleeping accommodations

• Not suitable for clients needing frequent overnight attention

• Caregiver legally requires breaks and rest periods

What Is 24-Hour Hourly Care?

24-hour hourly care uses two or three caregivers working 12-hour or 8-hour shifts, ensuring someone is always awake and alert.

Benefits of 24-Hour Hourly Care:

• Ideal for high-acuity care—frequent overnight toileting, medication needs, or fall risk

• Caregivers stay awake all night

• No need to provide sleeping arrangements

• More appropriate for ICU-level recovery or advanced dementia

Considerations:

• Significantly more expensive than live-in care

• Caregivers rotate often—less continuity

• Not always necessary for lower-level needs

Cost Comparison in Seattle

💡 Caringene offers both options and will help you decide what makes sense based on actual care needs—not upselling. Talk to our Seattle team ›

Which Option Is Right for Your Family?

Live-In Care may be right if your loved one:

• Sleeps through the night

• Needs companionship, fall support, or light dementia care

• Is coming home from surgery but doesn’t require constant overnight attention

• Lives in a quiet neighborhood like Magnolia, Redmond, or Mercer Island

24-Hour Hourly Care may be better if:

• They wake frequently and need hands-on help at night

• You need ICU-level recovery or palliative care

• You don’t have space to house a caregiver

• They’re in late-stage dementia or post-stroke recovery

Why Seattle Families Choose Caringene

We offer both live-in and hourly options—without franchise fees or rigid contracts. Families choose Caringene for:

• Affordable rates starting at $35/hour

• Local, Seattle-based team that knows the city

• Fast onboarding—often within 24 hours

• Custom care plans for Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, and beyond

Meet our team › | View services ›

FAQs: Live-In vs 24-Hour Care in Seattle

Is live-in care really 24/7?
Not quite. Live-in caregivers sleep at night and may not be alert 24/7. For constant supervision, go with hourly care.

Do I need a private room for live-in care?
Yes. In Seattle, you must provide a private bedroom and sleeping breaks.

Which is cheaper—live-in or hourly care?
Live-in care is 40–60% more affordable than 24-hour hourly care, but it’s not suitable for all care needs.

Need 24/7 support? Let’s build a plan that fits your family and your budget.
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