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Live-In Care

By James Mackay, Care Advice Specialist, Helping Hands Home Care

Live-In care allows individuals who want to remain in their own homes the choice to be able to do so. It’s suitable for adults of all ages and people in a variety of different situations.

A live-in care service usually provides 24 hour support with a carer living in a spare room in the customer’s property. The carer provides one to one support to the customer’s preferences. It offers a credible alternative to residential care and can be for short periods (commonly known as short break or respite care) or ongoing support as required.

When looking for a live-in care agency it’s pertinent to ask;

Do they employ their carers or are they just an introductory agency? You are usually responsible for paying the carer directly (including expenses) if they are not directly employed and may also be liable to ensure that they pay tax and national insurance depending on the number of hours they work.

  •  Are there any hidden costs involved – e.g. carer’s travel?
  • What kind of notice periods are involved? You may be tied in to paying for a long period when the carer may no longer be required – e.g. a long hospital stay.
  • Is the agency registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)? All agencies that provide care should be registered with the CQC. They govern the care sector and carry out inspections to ensure that agencies are providing a good service.
  • Is an assessment carried out so that the company fully understands your needs?
  • How long do their carers work for e.g. 4-8 weeks at a time? It’s especially important that carers do not change too regularly as it may get confusing for the person they are caring for. Of course holidays and sickness will need to be covered, but changes should be kept to a minimum.
  • When a change of carer occurs, how long is the handover period?
  • How are things managed whilst you are receiving the care? Is there a dedicated Care Manager who carries out regular visits? This ensures that both the customer and the carer are happy and that any potential problems can be worked out quickly.
  • Do they offer a choice of carer? How do they identify what type of person will fit in? All companies should offer to do an assessment and within that assessment understand the individual needs of the customer and what kind of person they would like to have care for them. Details of potential carers should be sent in advance and you should at least have the opportunity to talk to a carer over the phone and meet them in person if practicable.
  • How are their carers trained? What kind of selection process do they have? Training and selection should go hand in hand as carers will need to be evaluated in an environment similar to a person’s own home. This enables a company to identify a carer’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as understanding how best to fill gaps in their knowledge. Ask the company if they would allow the person they put forward to look after their relative.

For many people, being able to stay at home is the most important thing on their mind but they feel that a particular condition or illness they have may prevent this from happening.

With most conditions the greatest benefit is felt by people who remain in their own homes, especially if the condition is affecting their memory. For example customers with Dementia / Alzheimer’s have shown a slower decline when in familiar surroundings and allowed to continue with their usual routines.

However, it’s not just older adults that benefit from live-in care. Many younger adults either in education or employment enjoy the flexibility that live-in care offers to allow them to lead fulfilling and successful lives.

With so many people benefitting from live-in care, it’s little wonder that the service is fast becoming the preferred option for people – whatever their circumstances.

For more information, please call 0808 180 9005 or visit www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk

 

 

 

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