Who can benefit from live-in care? A Safehands Guide

It can be difficult to decide what is best when a loved one has increasing care needs. If you feel a care home is the wrong choice for you, a good alternative could be a live-in carer. Before you commit to any care plan, it’s important to seek the answers to any questions you might have. Understanding who can benefit from live-in care, can help you understand if this new way of living works for you.

How does the level of care at home compare to a care home?

Moving to a care home can be a scary and complicated process for the whole family. Live-in carers are an ideal alternative for a number of people – including those with complex care needs.

Live-in care services provides a number of benefits that aren’t possible in a residential care home. Your carer will provide specialised one-to-one care, giving you the independence to continue living your life in your own home.

Live-in care aims to cause the least amount of disruption and allows you to keep your own schedule rather than following the routine of an unfamiliar care home.

What are the pros and cons of having a live-in carer?

Live-in care ensures consistent and dedicated care tailored to the needs of the person being cared for. Live-in carers are specially trained and can provide round-the-clock companionship for someone who lives alone, preventing isolation and giving peace of mind to family members. Family can also have more input in the care plan, its often most cost-effective and those being cared for can keep their routine, hobbies and even keep looking after their pets.

There are however some questions you need to ask before hiring a live-in carer. It is important to establish if this is the right option for you. Will you be comfortable with someone else living in your home 24/7? Could you benefit more from the social side of a care home?

What are the benefits of choosing a home care agency?

A home care agency such as ours thinks about the specific person who requires care. We can tailor long-term care for a range of people including the elderly or someone with complex care needs. We find carers with common ground who can become a friend as well as helping with the housework and cooking. All our carers are speciality trained to provide excellent one-to-one care which cannot be matched in a care home.

Is there any privacy with a live-in carer?

Privacy is important, particularly when you need help with personal tasks. Your live-in carer can help you maintain the privacy of your home by providing consistent care for personal hygiene, medication management and other private tasks such as correspondence. Although your carer will be in the home constantly, they will give you your own space to see friends and family, to relax and to enjoy your home.

How much experience does a live-in caregiver have?

Having someone move into your home or with a family member, you want to know that they are getting the care they need. At Safehands, our carers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission to ensure they are trained in moving and handling, first aid, food hygiene and safeguarding. They are also provided with vital training to ensure they have all the expertise required to care for you or your loved ones.

When should you consider extra help from a carer?

Choosing to have a carer, live-in or otherwise, is a big decision. It is a good idea to consider getting extra help when you feel you are no longer able to complete tasks that you used to. This could be anything from housework to getting out of bed in the morning and moving around the home. Carers can help you manage your medication, make appointments and provide vital companionship.

Is family care or live-in care better for ageing seniors?

As we get older, we can find that usual tasks become more stressful. While family can help with certain tasks such as laundry and errands, it can be difficult when it comes to matters of personal hygiene or household chores. Live-in carers are specially trained to deal with matters such as these and provide the quality of care required, reducing any embarrassment that may come from asking a family member to help.

Still wondering who can benefit from live-in care?

If you think live-in care might be beneficial to you or your family, you can contact us for a chat about your options.