If you have a loved one who needs considerable care, but you’re reluctant to move them into a care home, live-in home care offers a safe and affordable option
Many older people are reluctant to leave their family home and move into the unfamiliar surroundings of a care home. They may fear that they will not be able to stick to their usual routines and activities and will have to give up treasured belongings. They may also worry about losing contact with friends, neighbours and much-loved places in their local neighbourhood.
Happily, live-in home care offers a solution.
What is live-in home care?
When you choose live-in home care, a caregiver moves into your loved one’s home. This means your loved one has a dedicated carer who is there to assist them day and night. Your loved one can continue to make choices about their lives. As opposed to a care home, they can choose when to get up in the morning, when to go out and what they would like to eat.
What does a live-in carer do?
A live-in carer can provide for all your loved one’s needs, including personal care, household chores, shopping, preparing food and healthcare. Additionally, they can take your loved one to activities, trips out and appointments. Live-in carers also provide companionship, so your loved one doesn’t feel lonely. They may also be happy to help take care of pets or tend the garden.
All of our live-in carer givers are trained in dementia and Alzheimer’s care by our specialist trainer Trevor Mumby. Our care staff are taught how to reassure and comfort clients with these conditions. They will make them feel safe and secure when everything else may seem unfamiliar. Finally, they will be patient and understanding with your loved one and have strategies to cope with any challenging behaviour that may result from these conditions.
Live-in carers are trained in medical emergencies so you can relax knowing your family member is always safe and looked after.
Specialist carers can provide additional services, such as nursing care, post-operative care or Palliative care.
How live-in home care works?
The success of live-in home care depends on finding a good match between the carer and cared for and ensuring that practicalities are arranged in advance, so there is no confusion.
Finding the right live-in care giver
If you are interested in live-in home care, arrange a meeting with a home care provider. This meeting will establish what is required and build up a picture of your loved one’s needs and preferences. It will help the care provider find carers with the right experience and training to support your loved one appropriately. Also, the care providers will find a carer with a similar outlook and interests so that your loved one and their carers will hopefully have plenty in common and get on well together.
Sorting out the practicalities
Usually, your loved one will have one main live-in caregiver who stays for six to eight weeks. Typically they then go off for two weeks and another carer from Mumbys will step in. These carers will then work on a rotating basis, however, we can accommodate any rota. Carers will need breaks during their shifts and these can be arranged very flexibly but they will always be on hand for emergencies. By law, carer workers are entitled to two hours per day and one long day off if staying in post for longer than two weeks at a time.
Your carers will need a comfortable room for themselves in your loved one’s home.
You and your homecare providers will set out the duties and responsibilities of the carer clearly in a Care Plan. Mumby’s offers a free no-obligation care plan. A Care Manager is assigned to you and they are your first point of contact if you have any queries or concerns.
Reviewing live-in home care
Your home care provider will work with you to ensure that the Care Plan is working as it should. The Care Manager will be available to answer your questions and solve any issues as they arise. The provider will also review the Care Plan with you periodically. This is to ensure that it continues to provide your loved one with the right support.
Mumby’s offers a free no-obligation care plan. Contact us to discuss your needs.
Paying for live-in home care
The cost of live-in home care can be comparable, and generally cheaper, than residential care. If live-in care is being provided for a couple, the financial savings are considerably more.
Payment of your carer is arranged through the care provider. This means your loved one does not need to handle money directly unless they want to. In addition, you may choose to arrange a debit card for your carer, so they can buy essentials such as food and medicines.
Live-in home care offers a great alternative to a care home as it puts your loved one’s needs at the heart of their care. Choosing live-in care will enable your loved one to retain their independence and continue to live in their home while still being safe and well cared for.
Give live-in care a try without a long-term commitment
Our live-in care 2-week trial allows you to try our outstanding live-in care and make an informed decision for your loved one without any long-term commitment. Book a free care assessment.