Live-in care supports independent living in the comfort of your own home.
How does a live-in care agency work?
Live-in care is when a professional caregiver comes to live in the person’s home to provide personalised care and support round-the-clock. For anyone exploring care options, this is a simple way to understand what live-in care means. The carer’s role is to assist the individual to remain as independent as possible while helping with daily tasks, personal care, companionship and support with any health conditions.
Depending on an individual’s health condition, needs and wishes, there are different types of live-in care services to cater for various needs.
At Country Cousins, our live-in care services include:
- Respite care – short-term care to cover an existing caregiver or for any temporary home care requirement.
- Overnight care or 24-hour care – Overnight care is primarily for people who require care and support during the night time. 24-hour care is round-the-clock care and support throughout the day and night.
- Couples care – is very cost-effective as one carer supports both individuals, enabling them to remain living together, which is often not possible in residential care.
- Care for complex health needs – specialist care for complex conditions such as motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, or Alzheimer’s.
- Postoperative/reablement care – short-term care to support individuals while recovering from illness or injury.
- Palliative care – compassionate end of life care that supports all the family.
Live-in care provides holistic care and support that is tailored to the individual’s needs and wishes. Because care is customised and delivered in a one-to-one setting, it offers the most comprehensive and personalised care available.
Live-in care is often a similar cost to residential nursing care but with the added benefits of personalised individual care in the comfort of the client’s home. To understand more about home care services compared to residential care homes, download our free guide.
To learn more about live-in care with Country Cousins, download our Guide to Live-in Care.
What is a live-in care agency?
A live-in care agency is a company which specialises in providing live-in care to individuals in their homes with support from a professional live-in caregiver.
There are different types of home care agencies specialising in different kinds of home care; a live-in care agency specialises in providing live-in care only. As live-in care is tailored to the needs of each individual client, the person requiring live-in care may have health conditions that require care, wishes or preferences which define the type of live-in care they receive.
At Country Cousins, we offer a wide range of live-in care services that support different circumstances and health conditions. Whether it be respite care as short-term cover for an existing caregiver, round-the-clock support for advanced-stage dementia care or companion care that supports daily living while providing companionship for the lonely or socially isolated, we are here to support independent living at home, no matter what your needs.
When you employ the services of a live-in care agency, they will begin by gathering all the information needed to understand what type of care is required. Typically, a care needs assessment will be carried out, either by the live-in care agency or the person’s local council. The care needs assessment informs the client’s personalised care plan. The care plan sets out in detail what care will be delivered and how. It also contains details about the client’s health conditions and care requirements, as well as their wishes and preferences for care.
The live-in care agency will then find a carer who fits the skills and experience needed. At Country Cousins, we know that a successful live-in care assignment also depends on the carer and client relationship, so we go to great lengths to match clients with carers who share their lifestyle, personality and interests.
If you are ready to take the next step in setting up support, our guide on How to Arrange Live-in Care walks you through the process clearly, from assessments to choosing the right provider.
Finding the best live-in care agency for you
Because of the growing demand, there has been a significant increase in live-in care companies in recent years. It can feel overwhelming when faced with the task of finding the best live-in care agency for you or a loved one.
Before you start your search, consider these important points:
Consider your loved one’s care needs
You need to know the extent of care your loved one requires. Do they have dementia or any other condition? What are their personal care requirements and mobility level? These questions should be answered beforehand because not all live-in care agencies in the UK provide condition-led care like Country Cousins.
Think about your budget
Live-in care fees start at around £950 to £1,400 per week, depending on where you live and the level of care needed. Working out your budget early will enable you to narrow down your search. To understand the different costs of care, take a read of our Guide To The Cost Of Care.
Depending on your financial situation, you may be able to get support from your local authority. For more information on ways to pay for care, read our guide on Financing And Funding Home Care.
Review customer testimonials and other reviews
Testimonials and reviews are valuable resources in the decision-making process. Look through the live-in care agency’s website to read the testimonials of other clients. You can also check Feefo Reviews.
Review the company’s experience and reputation
A live-in care agency that is well established with considerable experience gives an indication of a well-run live-in care agency that is successful and had time to develop best practices.
Check which agencies cover your area
Some live-in care agencies only service their local area or certain regions of the country, so when looking into live-in care providers, be sure to check the areas where they work. Country Cousins, for example, covers all regions of the UK.
Look for well-managed live-in care agencies
A live-in care agency should be attentive, understanding, flexible in their approach to care, interested in your thoughts and happy to answer questions. Evidence of good communication and attention to detail should give you confidence that it is a well-managed live-in care agency,
For further advice on how to find the best live-in care agency for you and what to expect from a good live-in care agency, read this article.
Why choose live-in care with Country Cousins?
At Country Cousins, we have been providing compassionate, high-quality live-in care to individuals throughout the UK for over 60 years. We are the longest-established introductory live-in care agency in the UK.
Our complete range of live-in home care services offers condition-led care that is completely tailored to the individual needs of our clients and provides the flexibility to adapt care as needs change. We also put great importance on matching the right carer to each client, as we know through our extensive experience that these factors greatly influence the success of the live-in care we provide and the satisfaction of our clients.
Get in touch today
If you or a loved one requires live-in care, get in touch with us today.
Call our experienced team today on 0808 196 6095 to discuss your live-in care needs and receive a free, no-obligation quotation. Alternatively, complete our online enquiry form.
