A caretaker, sometimes called an attendant, looks after a person's daily living: bathing, dressing, meals, moving about safely and company through the day. Aayan has provided home nursing since 2015, and the Kunjibettu branch can usually have a background-verified caretaker start within 24 to 48 hours of the free home assessment. Caretakers also start at hospital discharge, for example from Kasturba Hospital or KMC Manipal, when the patient needs daily help but no nursing procedures.
Monthly rates begin at ₹9,000 for a 12-hour shift. Call +91 73495 13467 to discuss the patient and the hours.
Written by Lawrence Avil Pais, founder of Aayan Home Nursing Services. Last updated 5 October 2026.
What a Caretaker Does
Bathing and grooming
Sponge baths or assisted showers, oral care, hair and nail care and fresh clothing every day, done with attention to privacy.
Feeding and hydration
Preparing or serving meals to the family's diet plan, feeding patients who cannot manage alone and making sure fluids are actually drunk.
Moving and transfers
Helping the patient out of bed, into a chair, to the bathroom or on a short walk, using safe handling to protect both people.
Toileting and incontinence care
Bedpan or commode help, diaper changes and skin care that help reduce rashes and pressure sores.
Company and conversation
Talking, reading aloud, listening to music or prayers together. For patients who spend long hours alone, this is often what the family notices first.
A clean, orderly sickroom
Changing bed linen, keeping the patient's room tidy and organising medicines and belongings. Housekeeping for the whole family is not part of the role.
A caretaker can also take blood pressure, temperature and SpO2 readings and write them in the daily log.
What a Caretaker Cannot Do
A caretaker is not a nurse, and the line matters for the patient's safety. These tasks need a GNM or BSc nurse:
- Injections of any kind
- Wound dressing
- Catheter insertion or change
- IV line management
Caretakers can remind a patient to take oral medicines the doctor has prescribed and note the time in the log. Anything that involves judgement about doses belongs with a nurse.
Shift Formats and Monthly Rates
| Format | What it means | Caretaker rate |
|---|
| Per visit | A short call of 2 to 4 hours for a bath, a meal or a walk | ₹500 – ₹700 per visit |
| 12-hour shift | Day or night cover | ₹9,000 – ₹12,000 a month |
| 24-hour shift | Round-the-clock cover for patients who cannot be left alone | ₹14,000 – ₹17,000 a month |
| Live-in | The caretaker stays in the home, with rest breaks agreed beforehand | ₹12,000 – ₹15,000 a month |
Pricing across all qualifications is on the home nurse cost page.
A Typical 12-Hour Day
- On arrival: handover from the family or the previous shift, check of the patient's condition, morning vitals.
- Morning: bath, grooming, breakfast and the first round of medicines.
- Midday: walking or stretching if advised, fluids, rest and a note in the log.
- Afternoon: lunch, repositioning, conversation or a short activity the patient enjoys.
- Evening: tea, light meal, evening medicines and getting the patient comfortable for the night.
- Handover: a short report to the family on appetite, mood, sleep and anything unusual.
How Caretakers Are Selected
Every caretaker is trained and background-verified before the first placement. The coordinator then matches by experience with the patient's condition and by any language or gender preference the family states. Families who want a woman or a man specifically can read our pages on female nurse home care and male nurse home care.
When to Move from a Caretaker to a Nurse
Start with a caretaker if the patient is stable and needs help with daily living. Add a nurse when the doctor orders injections, dressings, a catheter or tube feeds, or when the patient's condition is changing. Many families keep the caretaker for the long hours and book a nurse for a daily visit. The caretaker vs nurse guide explains how to decide.
Areas We Cover
From Kunjibettu we reach the whole district: the town itself (Kunjibettu, Court, Bunder, Diana Circle, Ambalpady, Kadiyali, Indrali), Manipal, Malpe, Kaup, Brahmavar, Barkur, Kundapura, Karkala and Shirva. Travel inside Udupi city and Manipal is free, and a small allowance may be added for addresses more than about 30 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
A caretaker helps with daily living and comfort. A nurse (ANM, GNM or BSc) is trained for clinical tasks such as injections, wound care and catheters. The right choice depends on what the doctor has ordered.
Yes. State your preference at the assessment and only matching staff are shortlisted. There is no extra charge for the choice.
A 12-hour shift costs ₹9,000 to ₹12,000 a month and a 24-hour shift ₹14,000 to ₹17,000. Live-in service is ₹12,000 to ₹15,000, and a single visit of 2 to 4 hours is ₹500 to ₹700.
Yes. Per-visit service of 2 to 4 hours suits patients who need help with a bath or meals but are fine on their own the rest of the day.
Yes, through a 24-hour or live-in arrangement, or a 12-hour night shift if the patient only needs supervision after dark.
The caretaker can remind him to take oral medicines the doctor has prescribed and record the time. Injections and any dose decisions are for a nurse.
Usually within 24 to 48 hours of the free home assessment. Mention an urgent discharge when you call so the placement is prioritised.
Ask for a replacement. It is arranged at no extra charge, normally within a day.
Looking for a Caretaker in Udupi?
Tell us the patient's condition, the hours needed and any preferences. The coordinator will visit for free and confirm a match within 24 to 48 hours.
Call +91 73495 13467
