If your loved one's care needs are increasing significantly, it may be time to consider live in care.
Live in care is a great option for people who want to stay living at home and get the support they need, day or night.
It can also be a cost effective way to get lots of different aspects of care that help your loved one live independently at home.
This article will cover your questions about live in care and help you decide whether it's right for you or your loved one.
Here’s a summary of what we’ll cover:
- Live in care is provided by professional, dedicated carers who move into your home to assist you day and night.
- Your care is their absolute priority, and they can support you with all manner of tasks from your personal care to help around the home.
- Live in care can be a great option for elderly people wanting to stay living at home, even with complex health needs.
- Depending on your care needs, the cost of live in care varies for individuals, but you may be eligible for funding.
What is live in care?
Live in care is a type of home care service provided by professionally trained elderly carers.
Your live in carer will work with you providing round the clock support from the comfort of your own home.
This means that they will be living with you, in your home, to give support whenever you need it.
You can choose to have a live in carer as a short-term or long-term solution to changing care needs, so you can get the best care.
Are you worried about a loved one?
What does live in care mean?
Opting for live in care means that you will be welcoming someone into your household to help you with your care.
This can be instead of moving into a care home or assisted living facility, where you have to settle into a new location.
Having a live in carer means that you can stay living at home, where you are comfortable and content.
It also allows you to maintain your daily routine at home, and stay with your partner, plus any pets you may have!
What do live in carers do?
As the name suggests, live in carers reside in your private home to give you 24/7 care and support.
They essentially provide the same level of care as you would receive in a care or nursing home, as they are always on hand.
This can include supporting you with activities of daily living as well as more complex, tailored nursing care.
So they can do everything from providing companionship to managing specialist care needs such as PEG feeding or medications.
Standard live in care
A basic standard of live in care should provide you with social as well as health and care needs.
As your live in carer is there for you when you need them, you may establish a routine for care tasks as well as social activities.
They can also provide support if you get sick or have a temporary change in your health condition.
What support do live in carers provide?
A dedicated live in carer can provide any service a regular domiciliary carer might be expected to, such as:
- Companionship: Chat and have a cup of tea with, or perhaps even play some dementia puzzles or easy card games for dementia.
- Personal Care: Bathing, getting dressed and undressed, self care in general, and toileting support is available
- Housekeeping: Your carer can help with laundry, cleaning, and keep your home as you like it
- Dietary support: Your carer can help you plan a menu, shop for groceries and prepare healthy meals
- Feeding assistance: If you need it, your carer will be able to help with feeding and hydration needs
- Mobility help: You can attend social events or other appointments with your carer’s support
Specialist live in care
For certain conditions, such as Parkinson’s and dementia, which cause complex symptoms, specialist live in care may be needed.
This is delivered by expert carers with clinical knowledge and experience in caring for a specific condition.
Specialist care is required for people with neurological conditions as well as those needing tracheostomy, catheter or stoma care.
Plus, if you are discharged from hospital, such as for hip replacement recovery, you may benefit from a temporary live in carer.
End of life care with a live in carer
If you want to receive end of life or palliative care at home a live in carer, as well as other care professionals, can make this possible.
Choosing to receive care at the end of your life in your own home allows you to be close to your loved ones in a comfortable setting.
Who should have a live in carer?
Live in care is thought to be an efficient and effective form of elderly care, suitable for people with physical care needs.
This could be as a result of a specific diagnosed condition or a mixture of care needs that have accumulated with age.
Nevertheless, live in care can be sourced for you or your loved one at any stage of the care journey, so take some time to think about your options.
Who needs live in care?
Live in care presents a good option for older people who may benefit from a live in carer if they need help in any of the following areas:
- Have multiple health and care needs
- Require support throughout the day and night
- Don’t want to move into a care home
- Want to live with a partner or family member that can’t provide full-time care
- Need daily help with personal care or help around the home
- Has pets they want to live with
Is live in care right for me?
In this section we’ll look at some of the ways that live in care can support you or your loved one.
But if it doesn’t sound right for you, there are plenty of other care options.
You can also look for carers who sleep overnight, home help, companion care or other types of care at home.
Stay at home
Live in care is a good option if you want support to live independently but need more assistance than you can get from home care visits.
Staying at home means that you can continue living with any family members or your partner, but your carer will take over care duties.
Live in care is also a great option if you have pets at home that you don’t want to leave, and your carer can help you look after them too.
Are you worried about a loved one?
Freedom
A live in carer could give you a new sense of freedom by aiding you to get out of the house, even if you have mobility issues.
Cost effective care solution
Live in care can be a cost effective care solution, especially for couples both needing care who want to stay at home.
It can be less expensive than two people moving into a residential care home and you receive high quality, personalised care.
Replace family carer
It might also be the most appropriate solution if a family member has been supporting you, but this is no longer an option.
Either as respite care or for the long-term, live in care could be a good option for your whole family.
What do I need to provide for live in care?
If you’re thinking about hiring a live in carer, you must ensure that you have the space, resources and money to do so.
As a live in carer lives at your home with you, there must be a spare bedroom for them to stay in.
They should also have storage for clothes and personal belongings and, of course, access to a bathroom and a kitchen.
That they have this privacy, storage and access to facilities is a basic right for them to live comfortably and do their job.
Other considerations for a live in carer
Live in carers will reside with you, even when they’re not working or aren’t engaged in an activity with you.
Even if there are things you don’t personally find necessary to have at home, you should provide them for your carer.
Consider items or services such as:
- Wifi connection
- Use of a TV
- Insurance at home and to use your vehicle
- Washing machine and ironing board
- Adequate heating and light in their room
How much time will you spend with your live in carer?
As your care worker will be living with you, you can expect to see them a lot of the time!
Aside from the time that they spend on your care, for both general and specific things, they will likely be around a lot.
Including during leisure time, as you might be together watching TV, reading, or even attending events and activities together.
The carer will have breaks at certain points, but other than that will be with you all day, plus on hand at night if needed.
How much does live in care cost?
There are many home care agencies that provide live in care services, both to individuals and couples.
Naturally, prices vary depending on agency, location and care needs, so any numbers mentioned here are only a guide.
In general, live in care from quality providers begins at around £800 per week and can be as much as £2000 per week for one person.
How to pay for live in care
You may be eligible for local authority funding for care in your own home due to your financial status.
If you have a primary health condition that requires live in care, NHS continuing healthcare funding may also be an option.
These funding routes can help you cover all or part of the cost of care, which can be expensive.
Don’t forget about any other financial benefits for elderly that you may be entitled to, such as Attendance Allowance.
If you found this guide useful then you might like to check out these guides on:
- What is domiciliary care?
- Dementia dolls: Therapeutic benefits for people living with dementia
- What is the CQC?
Need help finding care?
Organising care for your loved one can be confusing to say the least, with hours spent contacting countless providers and little success.
The Sweet Pea app solves your care conundrums by matching you with local providers who are ready and available to start supporting your loved one.
Start your care journey with Sweet Pea by entering your loved one’s care needs into the app and find services that help them live well at home. Just click below.