The Live-in Care Company
Background Pattern

Common Myths About Elderly Live In Care

For some, elderly live in care may hold many questions about what to expect, and what is involved. If you are considering live in care or transitioning to elderly live in care, it is important to be aware of the facts. Common myths about elderly live in care can prevent somebody finding their ideal situation for additional care. For those are deciding between a care home and elderly live in care, or relatives or those have come concerns about live in care, read on to discover the most common myths about live in care, which, in fact have no truth in them at all!

Myth #1: Live-in care is expensive

Reality: The cost of live-in care is sometimes thought to be greater than that of a residential care home.  However, the truth is that in general live in care is less costly than care homes.

 

There is no doubt that care costs are not cheap regardless of where the care is being offered. The cost of care depends on the type and level of care required and the location of where the care is offered. Home care costs can vary hugely, depending on your location. Home care costs are also dependent on the sort of care required, how many hours of care a week are required and whether these fall at the weekends/bank holidays, as care can cost more on these particular days.

 

Care home fees are also dependent upon the home selected and whether you need a nursing home or residential home. Costs for a nursing home can be significantly more than for a residential home. You may also need to pay more if your care needs are greater care, such as dementia care or palliative care.

 

A live-in carer for elderly can be costly if care is needed for 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week because this will require a team of carers but this is rarely the case for elderly live-in care assistants as they only work for a certain number of hours a day and remain on call at other times. Their rate will be charged per day, instead of by the hour, and they’ll be on hand at all times to help when necessary.

 

Since there is a great deal of variation within both live-in care assistant costs and residential care home costs, it is not possible to say which is a more affordable option unless factors such as type of care, location and hours are considered. Often live-in care is preferable for people since they are able to remain in their own home, and therefore this is a superior option for many.

Myth #2: Care workers are untrustworthy

Reality: You may hear stories on the news regarding care workers abusing their positions and taking advantage of the people they care for. This is a very rare scenario and live-in home help for the elderly avoids the chances of encountering workers who have developed a problematic moral and culture as may be the case in a care home.

 

Hence, by using a reputable care agency, carers who are skilled, motivated, and compassionate are available and careful attention is paid to the selection and vetting process to ensure that carers are of high quality, trustworthy, reliable, compassionate and professional. An efficient and reputable private live-in care agencies should also have put carers through a full background check. Carers from good care agencies will be expected to score highly at the interview stage on qualities such as responsibility, punctuality, cheeriness, professionalism and trustworthiness and of course, will come with endorsements from previous clients and agencies.

Myth #3: Only old people need care

Reality: Although elderly care at home and elderly live-in care make up a high proportion of all the live-in care across the UK, old people are not the only people that need care. Home care can also be required by younger people who are recovering from an injury or dealing with a chronic illness such as brain injury, spinal injury or neurodegenerative disease.

 

There are also many different types of home care for a variety of different needs. For instance, someone may require support with catheter care or need care that revolves around activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing and bathing. Others may need companionship and support with social events.

 

For children and young adults with complex needs, often one or more family members will provide home care but this can be exhausting and cause a strain on the whole family. Bringing in a live in carer for elderly to support the family with managing care duties can free up time for them to do activities as a family and bring them closer together, even if this is just on a respite basis.  

Myth #4: People in care lose their independence

Reality: It is often thought that people in care lose their independence but this does not have to be the case. Losing independence can be a great concern for many as they age or for those that require support with everyday activities, but a competent carer will communicate with you about these concerns and try to work in a way that allows you to retain as much independence as possible, whilst making life easier for you. The key here is communication and a mutual understanding of your needs, which most skilled carers will be considerate and aware of.

 

Retaining independence with care can also be easier when the care is received in the home rather than in a residential care home where you are in an unfamiliar environment and many duties are the responsibility of staff. Whilst receiving care at home, it can be a perfect opportunity to have someone help you with the duties that you are less able to do yourself on some days but you are still able to voice how you like things done and you can keep your everyday routine. If there are activities that you can carry out by yourself then you can talk to your carer about this so that they provide you with your independence.

 

A carer is there to support you and to make your life easier, they will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible. If you are afraid of losing your independence then it can be helpful to express this to your carer so that you can both work together to reduce this worry and to find a balance between independence, safety and comfort.

For more information and advice from our experienced and friendly team of live in care specialists, contact us today or make an enquiry by ringing 0118 427 0325.

Speak to one of our experts

Our friendly experts are here to help from 9am to 7pm, 7 days a week.

We value your privacy

To tailor your experience and help us provide the best service, we use cookies. Learn more

Background
Background

Download Our Brochure

To download a PDF version of our brochure please complete the below form.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.