As your loved ones get older, they may start to find everyday tasks more difficult. If you start to notice an elderly parent or relative is struggling with living independently, it may be time to bring up the topic of care.
Fortunately, care needn’t mean that an individual has to give up living in the home they love. People can receive care in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by cherished memories, and within easy reach of family and friends. Live-in care enables your elderly loved one to remain in their own home, supported by a one-to-one live-in carer.
Here we will answer all your important questions regarding our nationwide live-in care, from “What does live-in care mean?” to “How much does a live-in carer cost?” After reading this guide, we hope you’ll see why live-in care is becoming an increasingly popular care option in the UK.
What does live-in care involve?
Live-in care is a type of care service in which a trained carer resides in the home of the person receiving care. With a live-in carer on-site 24/7, your loved one is provided with around-the-clock assistance and support.
Unlike many care home environments, a live-in carer offers individuals one-to-one attention, meaning that you can rest assured that your loved one is being looked after attentively. Live-in care is centred around your loved one’s daily routine, needs and preferences, whereas residential or nursing home care may offer less room for personalisation.
Live-in care also differs from hourly care or part-time home care as the carer is present in the individual’s home throughout the day and night. Live-in care provides full-time support and assistance, typically for several days or weeks at a time. This form of care can be incorporated into a long-term care plan or used as respite care, enabling a carer or family member to take a break from their caring responsibilities.
What does a live-in carer do?
The primary aim of a live-in carer is to enable older adults or any individual with care needs to live as comfortably and independently as possible in their own home.
The services provided by a live-in carer will vary depending on the individual. Some people require more support with personal care, others need assistance with mobility issues, and some crave companionship. The role of a live-in carer is flexible and adaptable to suit your loved one’s needs and preferences.
On a day to day basis, live-in carers typically help with the following:
- Personal care (bathing, dressing, and toileting)
- Companionship and social interaction
- Facilitating social engagements, and hobbies
- Providing transport to appointments and more
- Medication management
- Light housekeeping tasks
- Mobility assistance
- Preparing meals
- Running errands
- Looking after pets
You may be wondering about the rota of a live-in carer and how this works. A suitable live-in carer is assigned to an individual and this carer may work 7 days at a time, for up to 4 weeks before taking a week break.
During this time off, an appropriate respite carer is provided. Live-in carers work up to 10 hours a day. Should your loved one require cover overnight, another carer will take over the nighttime shift.
What are the benefits of live-in care?
Live-in care is a convenient alternative to relocating to a care home environment and offers many more benefits.
The benefits of live-in care include:
- Remaining in the comfort of your own home
- Avoid the hassle of selling property and relocating
- Peace of mind that your loved one has continuous care in place
- Reduced likelihood of falls
- Allows your loved one to stay with their beloved pets
- Remaining close to neighbours and friends living nearby
- Keeping daily routines in place
- Retaining levels of privacy
- Complex care needs are supported
- One-to-one personalised care
If you and your loved one are considering live-in care over other types of care, read our guide on whether live-in care or a care home would be the right choice for them.
What do I need to provide a live-in carer with?
Welcoming your loved one’s live-in carer with a safe, comfortable, and private room is essential. A live-in carer works hard to provide around-the-clock care for your loved one. By providing a private space where the carer can relax during breaks, they can be fully rested and ready for their next shift.
By providing the following facilities for a live-in carer, you can ensure that your home and their workplace is safe and comfortable:
- Private room (preferably lockable)
- Comfortable bed
- Sufficient heating
- Clean environment
- Storage for personal belongings
- Access to bathroom facilities (shared or private)
- Kitchen facilities
- WiFi
- TV
A live-in carer should also be provided with details concerning your loved one’s care so that it can be included in their care plan.
These details include:
- Medical contact details (healthcare professionals involved in your loved one’s care)
- Information regarding healthcare needs or ongoing health conditions
- Next of kin contact information
- Details surrounding food preferences and allergies
- Your loved one’s typical daily routine
How to find a live-in carer
There are options available should your loved one decide to have a live-in carer move into their home. You can take it upon yourself to arrange live-in care, meaning that the live-in carer is directly employed by you and you are responsible for their employment contract.
Alternatively, you can enlist the services of a live-in care agency that will take over the responsibility of managing the live-in carers employed by the service. If this seems more appropriate for your circumstances, arranging live-in care through a fully managed care agency is the most attractive option.
Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. Not only can you rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care, but that Trinity will take responsibility for the employment and management of your live-in carer and respite carer.
If you have any questions about arranging nationwide live-in care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging nationwide live-in care with Trinity is straightforward.
Simply follow these five 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