Nowadays, various care services are available to suit a range of needs and preferences, making care planning more accessible and personalised. Chances are you have heard of live-in and visiting care, but did you know there is an in-between option?
Live-out care provides one-to-one support for elderly individuals throughout the day, similar to live-in care. The only difference is that with live-out care, the carer returns to their home at the end of their shift.
Live-out care is an ideal alternative to other forms of care, offering a high level of support without having a carer live in your loved one’s home. Below, we explore the benefits of live-out in closer detail, but you can also learn more about different types of care available in our guides.
What does live-out care involve?
Live-out care involves daily care from an experienced carer who lives locally to the client. Similarly to live-in care, the carer assists an individual in living as independently as possible in their own home.
Throughout the day, the carer remains on-site to provide one-to-one personalised care, assisting people with whatever daily activities they require help with. At the end of their shift, the carer leaves rather than residing in your loved one’s home.
However, there is no need to worry about any overnight emergencies, as a live-out carer is chosen for their close proximity to their client, so can be on call if needed. Another advantage of having a local carer is that in the event of an emergency or any overnight needs, they also know the locations of nearby medical centres and hospitals.
What can Trinity carers help with?
Here are some of the common tasks a live-out carer can help your loved one with:
- Personal care e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Managing medication
- Preparing nutritious meals
- Getting in and out of bed
- Light housekeeping
- Companionship
- Transportation to and from appointments and social engagements
- Facilitating hobbies and interests
What are the benefits of live-out care?
There are many benefits to live-out care, including:
- No need for carer accommodation – as carers live locally there is no need to provide a room and facilities for a carer in your own home.
- Flexibility – care can be arranged around your loved one’s daily routine and provide as much or as little support as is needed.
- Personal space – as the carer lives off-site, individuals can enjoy time alone without the presence of a carer 24/7.
- One-to-one support – live-out care still provides focused support for the individual, the same as live-in care or visiting home care.
- Local care – a live-out carer who lives close to your loved one is beneficial as they can arrive at their client’s home quickly in case of emergency and they know the local healthcare provisions available in the area.
- Personalised care – care is tailored to the individual’s needs and preferences.
Live-out care vs live-in care
In many ways, these two forms of care are similar. Here, we break down the similarities and differences of live-out care and live-in care to help you and your loved one decide on the right care choice for their individual needs.
| Live-in care | Live-out care |
| Carer resides in your loved one’s home | Carer lives in their own home |
| Carer is available throughout the day | Carer is available throughout the day |
| Carer is on-site for nighttime assistance | Carer can be on call for nighttime assistance |
| Private room for carer needs to be provided | No need for carer accommodation |
| Suitable for more demanding needs | Appropriate for more independent individuals |
Why choose live-out care?
Deciding on which care service to opt for is a personal choice that needs to consider the individual’s health needs and preferences. Asking your loved one what they expect from their carer will help to discern which type of care would be most suitable for them.
Many people choose live-out care because the carers provided are locally based. Living close to their clients is important as this means that they can be on call during the night and pop round whenever necessary. In addition, a shorter commute to work ensures that traffic jams or road accidents will not delay your loved one’s carer.
The main difference between live-out care and live-in care is that the carer does not reside in your loved one’s home with live-out care. With this in mind, a live-out carer is a better option for those individuals who would feel uncomfortable sharing their home with their carer. Moreover, not everyone has the space to accommodate a carer. In this situation, live-out care benefits both the carer and the client.
In terms of flexibility, live-out care is better suited to varying levels of care. Providing extra help when needed and less assistance when full-on support is not required. In this way, live-out care shares similarities with visiting care and is appropriate for more independent individuals. That being said, live-out care can be as hands-on as live-in care if required, providing on-call support overnight.
Ask your loved one whether they would prefer a carer living with them in their own home or if they would rather a carer left at the end of the day. By posing this question, you will better understand which type of care would be best for them.
Get in touch today
If your loved one requires support and assistance throughout the day but would rather a carer did not live with them in their home, live-out care could be the answer. Trinity Homecare can perfectly match your loved one with a locally based live-out carer who will provide daily home help and leave when the day is done.
Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 3% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.
If you have any questions about arranging live-out care, get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging live-in care with Trinity is easy. Just follow these five simple steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time
