Determining the most suitable form of care for an individual can be challenging, as different circumstances call for different approaches. Live-in care may be the ideal solution for certain situations, offering personalised and continuous support. The best care is tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual at any given time.
So, when is live-in care appropriate? This article explores the scenarios where live-in care is most beneficial and the key considerations for developing an effective care plan. Understanding the various types of care arrangements is essential for making informed decisions about the best care options.
What is live-in care?
Live-in care is a home care service where a dedicated carer resides in the home of the individual receiving care. This arrangement ensures that assistance is available around the clock, both during the day and overnight. A live-in carer can help with various daily activities that may become more challenging with age, such as personal care, mobility support, and household tasks.
Additionally, live-in care provides valuable companionship, catering to both physical and emotional health needs. This personalised approach ensures that the individual receives comprehensive support tailored to their specific requirements.
A live-in carer can help with:
- Personal care e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Mobility support
- Assistance getting in and out of bed
- Running errands
- Medication management
- Companionship and someone to talk to
- Transportation to and from appointments and social engagements
- Light housekeeping
- Meal preparation
- Facilitating hobbies and interests
When is live-in care appropriate?
There are situations where live-in care may not be appropriate, such as when individuals require specialist medical care. However, the spectrum of live-in care services is so extensive that it can be suitable for the vast majority of people.
Live-in care is an alternative to the care home environment ideally suited to individuals who prefer to remain in their own home, surrounded by memories and close to family, friends, and neighbours. If your loved one expresses a wish to stay put rather than enter a care home, live-in care could be the perfect solution.
Moving home and relocating to a care facility such as a nursing home or residential setting, can also be distressing, all the more so for people living with dementia. In this case, live-in care offers all the support of these facilities and more, without the disruption caused by moving.
Understandably, live-in care can be mistakenly thought of as only suitable for those individuals who are still relatively independent, with no major health needs. Live-in care can support individuals living with a range of chronic illnesses, disabilities, and needs. The different types of care include, but are not limited to:
- Dementia care
- Overnight care
- Urgent live-in care
- Complex live-in care
- 24-hour home care
- Disability care
- Reablement care
- Palliative care
The benefits of live-in care
Compared to other types of care service providers such as nursing homes and residential care facilities, live-in care offers individuals a host of benefits.
The benefits of live-in care include:
- Remaining in the comfortable surroundings of home
- Being cared for by an experienced carer
- Maintaining daily routines, hobbies, and interests
- Staying close to family, friends, neighbours, and local community
- No need to relocate and move to a care home facility
- Peace of mind for family and friends
- Round-the-clock personalised care
- Companionship and someone to talk to
- Couples can stay together in the home they love
- Keeping beloved pets
What to consider
To help with the care planning process, it can be useful to consider the following factors when deciding on whether live-in care is appropriate or not.
Daily routine
If your loved one has a set daily routine that they would prefer to remain intact, it is important to choose a care service that honours this. Live-in carers work around an individual’s daily routine and meal times, gently supporting them without disrupting their preferred way of life.
Remaining at home
The only type of care service that enables individuals to stay at home is home care. If your loved one is resigned to remaining in their own home, live-in care and visiting care are appropriate options for them to choose from, depending on their needs and preferences.
Local area
Similarly, if an individual wishes to stay within their local area, this can dictate which type of care service would be most appropriate. Live-in care enables individuals to remain in the local area, within their communities and close to family, friends, and neighbours. In terms of care homes, there may not be space available in the nearest care home so your loved one may have to move further afield, possibly to a new area away from familiar faces.
Couples care
If both individuals in a couple require extra support and assistance, live-in care is an economical solution. One live-in carer can support couples living together in their own home, tending to the needs of each individual. Whereas in a care home environment, there may be extra charges for accommodation and other additional costs.
Budget
Following on from the above, budget plays an important role in the decision-making process. You may mistakenly believe that live-in care is a cost that most people cannot cover. Live-in care is likely more affordable than you think. The costs are similar to those charged by a care home. However, with live-in care, all services are included in the final agreed-upon fee with no added extras. Live-in care is also a one-to-one care service which would incur an additional charge in a care home facility.
Check out our cost of live-in care guide, for more information on financing and funding live-in care.
Get in touch today
Live-in care is a surprisingly affordable and flexible form of care that allows individuals to remain in the comfortable surroundings of home. If the idea of receiving extra support and help at home appeals to you or your loved one, live-in care could be the ideal care choice. Trinity Homecare is here to guide you through the process, matching your loved one with the perfect live-in carer to support their health needs and preferences.
Trinity ranks amongst the top 3% of all nationwide care companies in England, giving you the peace of mind that your loved one will receive the highest standard of live-in care and support.
If you would like to learn more about arranging live-in care for your loved one, simply get in touch with our friendly and professional 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
