live in care
Research has shown that 97% of people, when given the option of staying in their home or in a care home, chose the comfort of being in their own home and surrounded by all that is familiar.
The threat of a care home is terrifying to many, and a source of great guilt to concerned relatives who feel that they have no other choice.
Live-in care is that alternative choice. While it will not suit everyone – and some people will need the additional structured care that a good residential care home can offer – it could potentially transform the lives of many others.
Comfort in Care specialises in introducing and placing live in carers throughout the United Kingdom.
What is live in care?
Live-in care means having a fully trained carer living with you in your own home. Your live-in carer will support you with your specific needs to keep you comfortable and independent at home.
How does a live in carer work?
A live-in carer can help with various tasks including day-to-day housekeeping tasks such as preparing meals and cleaning. In addition to this they provide around the clock care including personal care and medical care where applicable. They also provide companionship and help the care recipient to live independently.
What is the difference between live in care and hourly care?
Both domiciliary care and live-in care take place in the home. Domiciliary care is also known as hourly care because it's administered in small chunks. Live-in care is delivered by care workers who are with you 24/7 in your home.
Advantages of Live-In Care
DEDICATED CARE
The main advantage of having a live-in carer is the dedicated one-to-one care that your loved one will receive.
Professional carers are not just trained to manage certain conditions, such as dementia, stroke, MS or Parkinson’s, but look at a holistic approach including nutrition, medications, exercising mental stimulation and companionship.
The carer will really get to know your relative, understanding their preferences and routines. A live-in carer can also manage evolving care needs.
STAYING IN THEIR HOME
Most elderly people prefer to stay in their own home, surrounded by their possessions and memories, and in a familiar setting. This is particularly true for people with dementia who find change distressing. A live-in carer can give them the opportunity to continue living in their home for longer, with friends and neighbours nearby.
PEACE OF MIND
Peace of Mind relates to both family and the person being cared for. A live-in carer not only becomes a valued companion but reduces the risk of your loved one feeling isolated as well as being available night and day in case of an emergency.
KEEPING PETS
Most residential and nursing homes do not allow pets, yet an elderly person’s relationship with their pet can run deep and they can be heart breaking to say goodbye to. One responsibility of a live-in carer is usually to look after, feed and exercise, a house-trained pet.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Perhaps the main benefit of live-in care is independence and dignity, with none of the restrictions associated with institutionalised care. When we get older and weaker, it’s the little things that start to mean a lot, such as the quality of food and drink we enjoy.
The Live-In-Care Hub’s new quality of life study, for instance, finds that:
- 81% of live-in clients questioned say they get all the food and drink they like when they want, compared to 66% in residential care and just 52% of people in nursing homes.
- 99% of people with live-in care said they still get to do at least some of the things they value and enjoy, despite sickness and frailty. Compare that to 11.6% of people in nursing homes who say they NEVER do anything they enjoy with their time.
- 15% of people in nursing homes complain that they have no control over their daily lives. The same goes for 4.6% of people in residential care, and just 3% of live-in care clients.