A live-in carer can be a great asset to your loved one as they encounter the challenges of ageing. But what does a live-in carer do, and how can a live-in carer help your loved one live life to the fullest? These questions and many more will be answered so you can make an informed decision about your loved one’s care.
To get an even clearer picture of what this support looks like in practice, you can read A day in the life of a live-in carer, which walks through a typical daily routine.
Live-in carers offer their support to those receiving care in many different ways, depending on the individual’s health and care needs. For families new to care at home, understanding what live-in care means can make these different types of support much clearer. Simply put, a live-in carer extends a helping hand to ensure that individuals can live as comfortably and independently as possible in their own homes. How a live-in carer can help your loved one is entirely up to what they need from a live-in carer and the details of their personal care plan.
From the duty of a carer and where to find a care professional to information about the hiring process, read our guide to learn more.
What are the duties of a live-in carer?
Not everyone requires the same level of care, so the day-to-day role of a live-in carer varies from person to person. Some individuals find they need more help with personal care, whereas others may require companionship and help with mobility issues. The duties of a live-in carer are entirely dependent on what the person receiving care needs.
Typically, a live-in carer job description includes the following:
- Personal care, bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Cooking and meal preparation
- Light housekeeping
- Household administration
- Mobility support
- Maintaining an active social life
- Transportation to and from appointments and social engagements
- Medication management
- Arranging healthcare appointments
It is also important to note what live-in carers do not do. Live-in carer duties do not extend to:
- Working 24/7 – a team of 24 hour carers is required for complex needs
- Household maintenance or DIY
- Heavy lifting
- Maintenance or repair of specialist medical equipment
- Deep cleaning or heavier housekeeping tasks, such as window cleaning
What should you consider when hiring a live-in carer?
Once you have decided to enlist the help of a live-in carer, there are a few areas to consider before you begin your search. Ensuring you have thought about the following and included them in your loved one’s care plan will ensure that the organisation of their care runs smoothly.
Types of live-in care
Live-in care encompasses a wide range of care services and it is important that the right type of care is chosen. Live-in dementia care, live-in respite care and 24-hour live-in care are all designed to address specific care needs. Should your loved one require help and support managing the symptoms of a health problem, condition-led care could be the answer. Similarly, individuals needing round-the-clock assistance day and night might benefit from 24-hour live-in care, involving at least two carers exchanging shifts.
What to provide a live-in carer
There are certain practicalities to consider before a live-in carer can begin their work. As part of a live-in carer’s job description requires them to reside in the home of the individual they are caring for, an appropriate space needs to be made for them. Arranging for a secured, private room, complete with a comfy bed, access to toilet facilities, and kitchen space is essential to ensure that the live-in carer is able to be fully rested each day, enabling them to carry out their live-in care duties effectively.
Where to find live-in carers?
When searching for a live-in carer, there are numerous avenues to explore. From advertisements for private carers to care agencies, these are typical places to turn to as you search for an ideal carer. However, bear in mind the type of service you require and
the level of responsibility you and your loved one would be happy to take on when deciding where to access care.
Introductory care agencies
An introductory care agency such as Country Cousins introduces your loved one to compatible carers. Introductory care agencies hand over the management of the carer to you and your loved one once a suitable match has been made. Working with self-employed carers offers greater flexibility and autonomy surrounding the care your loved one receives. This doesn’t mean to say you are completely without support, as at Country Cousins, we are always there to provide outstanding customer service should you require guidance or support with care arrangement.
Fully managed care services
With fully managed care services, finding, employing, and managing the carer is taken off your hands. This service is ideal for those wanting to relinquish control and responsibility of a loved one’s care to an agency. However, there is a price to pay for a fully managed service, which affords less flexibility and incurs higher costs than an introductory agency.
Private carers
An alternative to introductory agencies or fully managed care services, finding a private live-in carer is another option to consider. Hiring private carers means that you and your loved one will be responsible for background checks, hiring, providing employment contracts, taking out insurance, sick pay, and arranging respite care for when your carer is not available.
Questions to ask a potential private carer
Whichever route you choose, considering whether a carer is a compatible choice is still a decision you will have to make. When confronted with a care candidate, it helps to get to know them by asking a few questions to ensure that you are making the right choice. Ask the following questions to help with the decision-making process:
- Why did you want to become a carer?
- What do you enjoy about being a carer?
- What is the most important aspect of your role?
- How would you deal with an emergency situation?
- What would happen if you were unwell and unable to work?
- Do you have any specialist skills?
- Could you tell me about your training and experience in the care sector?
These questions will help you get to know a potential carer better. From their personality type and reasons for pursuing a career in care to their training credentials, this builds a picture of who they are and whether they are the perfect carer for your loved one.
How to arrange live-in care
Country Cousins is an introductory care agency providing a range of live-in care services. We can help you arrange live-in care by introducing you to a compatible carer who will provide personalised care and support.
With over 400 families trusting us daily to match them with the perfect live-in carer, you can rest assured that we can find the most suitable live-in carer for your loved one.
For more advice on choosing in-home care, check out our live-in care guide.
Talk to our team today
If you require live-in care for your loved one, get in touch with us at Country Cousins today on 01293 244 706. We are the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, having provided compassionate care to people in their own homes since 1959.
Give us a call today. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm & Saturday, 10am to 4pm.. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
