The Live-in Care Company
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What is live in care?

What is live in care?

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Discover everything you need to know about elderly live in care in this guide. From live in care specialists, The Live in Care Company.

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Types of live in care for the elderly

What does a personal carer do?

• Assists with any personal care needs of the elderly such as bathing and showering

• Helps with dressing, undressing and getting ready for bed

• Assists with hair care, eye care, dental hygiene and foot care

What does a 24 hour carer for the elderly do?

• Assists with elderly overnight care

• Assist with any issues through the night, such as going to the toilet, changing position in bed, or administering medication

• Provides an elderly sitter service to offer peace of mind and reassurance that your loved one will be looked after around the clock

What does a respite carer for the elderly do?

• Provides respite care at home for a full-time carer, allowing them to have some time to themselves.

• Offers emergency respite care after a hospital stay

• Covers all duties of a usual carer, including personal care, cooking, assistance with mealtimes and bedtimes, and administering medication

What does a carer do to help their client with incontinence?

Home care can also include incontinence care for the elderly, to cover all needs regarding going to the toilet and managing incontinence issues with dignity and independence. As we age, we can start to lose function and ability of some of our bodily functions including bladder and bowel movement. This is very common, and can be easily managed with the right care.

• Helps with catheter management and catheter care at home, including changing the catheter and assisting with drainage bags and incontinence pads.

• Assists with going to the toilet and managing incontinence to prevent further damage or urinary tract infections

• Provides support and assistance with managing incontinence while away from home

What does a live in dementia carer do?

• A specially trained carer will provide tailored support with specialist dementia care at home for a person living with dementia.

•  They can provide specialist dementia care to help provide a comfortable, safe and appropriate environment for your loved one.

• Professional dementia carers can also provide senior dementia care plans that are suited for the specific needs of the elderly person, and their stage of dementia.

What does a domiciliary carer do?

An elderly person may only need a carer to come in once or twice a day or week to help with household tasks. This is called a domiciliary carer, and they do not live in the home.

At The Live in Care Company, we do not offer domiciliary care services as a standalone service.

Domiciliary care refers to:

• Home help services for the elderly, helping with all household tasks such as cooking meals, laundry and cleaning.

• Helping with tasks such as shopping and assisting with personal care such as hair care, toileting and help with bathing or showering

• A domiciliary carer for the elderly can also include assistance with mobility and medication management

What does a palliative carer do?

There may come a time when your elderly relative or loved one is reaching the end of their life, and is in need of specialist one to one, end of life care at home.

• A palliative carer directly manages and supports elderly people in need of end of life care

• Palliative care refers to specialist end of life care for the elderly for those nearing the end of their life, to create a comfortable, safe and familiar environment.

• An end of life carer works closely with the family to provide support and guidance about the stages of end of life care, and what it may involve.

Who are The Live in Care Company

Chapter 4

What is included in live-in elderly care?

Personal care for the elderly involves a carer assisting in everyday personal care tasks, such as washing, dressing, and preparing for the day. Personal care services are just one type of care available, and can be completely tailored to the needs of your elderly loved one or relative.

• Assisting with bathing, showering and washing
• Assisting with dressing
• Assisting with using the toilet or commode
• Assisting with catheters
• Helping get ready for bed
• Help with oral hygiene
• Apply creams, lotions
• Assist with mobility issues, such as – helping someone into and out of a bed or a chair
• Helping to apply and remove make-up
• Assist with hair care, or shaving
• Helping with foot care and eye care
• Apply creams, lotions

Help prepare and cook meals

Live-in carers can prepare meals for your loved one, cooking and preparing tasty and nutritious meals. Services provided by live-in home help for the elderly can include cook meals based on you or your loved one’s preferences and dietary requirements.

Cleaning and tidying the house

Home help for the elderly means their home is kept tidy and clean with a regular cleaning schedule to help keep the home free of dust and sparkling clean. From daily cleaning to deep cleans of the bathroom, bedroom, living room and kitchen, a live in carer for elderly people can take care of all their cleaning needs.

Washing dishes

As well as preparing your food, a live in carer can wash dishes once your loved one has eaten. Tasks like filling and emptying the dishwasher, putting away dishes and keeping the kitchen in an orderly fashion can be carried out by a live in carer.

Cleaning and changing bed linen

Another job that live in elderly carers can take care of is cleaning and changing bed linen, so your loved one can stay comfortable in bed and don’t have to worry about regularly changing your sheets.

Laundering and ironing clothes

As we get older, laundering and ironing clothes can become an unnecessary hassle. This is another way elderly care can help, by taking care of all your washing and ironing.

Shopping

A live-in carer can make sure your loved one has everything they need in the house to save you from going to the shops. Or, if you would prefer, a carer can also assist your loved one and take them shopping so they still shop independently.

Arranging trips out

A live-in carer is not just there to assist with daily tasks; carers can help plan trips out so your loved one spends time out of the house, either seeing friends or spending time with their carer doing an activity they enjoy.

Pet care

One of the great things about staying at home to receive home care instead of moving into a care home is that it allows you to keep any pets you have. But, pets can be hard work! A personal carer or specialist live-in carer can also help your loved one look after their pets, buy pet food and prepare the pet’s dinner.

Administration tasks

Keeping on top of bills, monthly payments and general admin can be confusing and overwhelming. For those who may have dementia, such administration tasks can be difficult to process, and a helping hand is exactly what they may need.

Medication management at home can be efficiently and carefully managed by a live in carer for the elderly. A carer can oversee and monitor all aspects of taking medication, to ensure your loved one takes their medication at the right time of day,  the correct medicine amount, too.

An elderly live in carer can help with the management of:

  • Disposal of medication
  • Administering of medication
  • Record keeping
  • Dispensing
  • Storage

Chapter 5

What are the benefits of live in elderly care?

Physical benefits

Live-in care for the elderly has a great number of physical benefits. Using the services of a live-in carer can see your loved one be far more active than living alone, as they will be encouraged to move around and engage with others.  A live-in carer can encourage them to try new hobbies such as gardening and work with them on certain tasks so they are never out of their comfort zone, and are trying new things.

Health benefits

There are plenty of health benefits to live-in home help for the elderly, as a carer can set up simple activities to keep their body and mind active throughout the day. A live-in carer will also ensure that meals are healthy, nutritious and delicious, and
suitable for a diet should your loved one have diabetes or have other special dietary needs. Simply having a companion can help keep their brain and memory healthy, through playing games, talking and interacting.

Social benefits

Choosing live-in home help for the elderly can open up possibilities socially. This is because a carer can prepare food and drinks to welcome visitors, help your loved one organise trips, and drive if you or your loved one can no longer drive. Your mobility should never stop you from socialising with friends, and a specialist live-in carer for the elderly can help keep routine visits to friends and family. A live-in carer is themselves a friend and will provide a constant companion to chat to, laugh with, play games with and socialise with, so your loved one never feels alone.

Mental benefits

From improving cognitive function and memory through regular conversation, to simply peace of mind through knowing someone’s around, live in care has many benefits. A carer can create a tailored care plan that includes brain-stimulating activities to keep the brain active. From card games, to one on one conversations, to days out to explore and experience new things. The personalised level of care and attention your loved one can receive from a live in carer is tailored to them and delivered by an experienced carer.

Companionship benefits

Nobody should feel lonely. Spending time with others, regular interaction and companionship are important to keep our minds active and healthy. Studies have shown that friendship in older age has multiple benefits, and loneliness shouldn’t have to be endured by anyone. Elderly people may see fewer people than they used to. This may be because an elderly person’s family lives far away, or perhaps they have just lost a partner. Mobility issues can also reduce the amount of time spent with others. For all these reasons, those who are elderly generally see fewer people, and live-in care at home is an excellent way to bring interaction and enjoyment into someone’s life.

Provides regular routine and ensures independence

An elderly live-in carer can bring structure and routine to an elderly person’s life. Needing help and assistance in everyday life should not mean that your entire schedule is turned on its head. Change of routine, scenery and familiarity can be confusing and distressing, particularly as you age, and your independence can be managed more effectively with a one-on-one carer who is professionally trained to be there to help with your exact needs.

Get in touch with a member of our friendly team to arrange elderly live in care today.

Chapter 6

Health conditions and elderly live-in care

Specialist dementia care is a type of elderly live-in care that is specifically tailored for those with dementia. A dementia carer can create a tailored plan specific to the needs of the elderly person. Dementia affects people in different ways; depending on how severe their dementia may be, more care may be required. Live-in dementia care needs will change over time, and our experienced and trained dementia carers will provide the level of care that is appropriate for your loved one depending on the stage of their dementia. From stimulating activities to engage memory and cognitive function to helping and assisting with personal care needs each day, dementia care for the elderly involves careful observation of what support a client needs which can change from hour to hour.

Click to learn more about our live-in dementia care services

Dementia is a progressive disease that impacts cognitive function and ability, attention span, and personality. It can span from needing help calculating change, to becoming a danger to one’s self in the home. Senior dementia care is increasingly popular as it means the person living with dementia does not have to leave a familiar environment, something that will become increasingly important as they progressively become affected by their illness. A dementia carer for the elderly can provide tailored one on one care, forming a strong bond and delivering exactly what a person may need when they need it.

Mild dementia

Mild dementia is when a person may be simply forgetful, and can usually be managed by friends and family. They may need subtle reminders of certain things but in general, it is a reasonably easily  managed situation. It is at this stage of the condition when it may be a good idea to think about dementia care and getting in touch with a potential care provider.

Moderate dementia

Moderate dementia is when the individual will need help with certain tasks. These can be as simple as administrative tasks, helping with shopping, to managing finances. Later stages of moderate dementia may involve help getting dressed, as well as help with eating. It is between the moderate to severe stage of dementia when an individual may not recognise their friends or family, and become easily disorientated, confused, erratic, and a risk to themselves in certain situations.

Severe dementia

Severe dementia is, unfortunately, rather inhibiting, as the individual will need dementia care around the clock, day and night, with an experienced dementia carer who is familiar with their exact needs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. It usually affects the hands, feet and wrists, and is usually associated with tiredness and lack of energy. Arthritis is usually more common in those over 60, and with the right treatment, lifestyle changes and surgery, if needed, can be manageable. However, it can become painful and your loved one may need assistance in everyday tasks as the arthritis worsens. This would be an occasion where a carer would visit throughout the day, or assist in tasks such as driving to the shop for food.

Arthritis care at home can assist with:

  • Any physical tasks that a person may struggle with
  • Helping to buy shopping and put it away
  • Helping with cooking and preparing meals
  • Cleaning and laundry
  • Transport to doctors appointments/hospital
  • Help taking medication

Motor neurone disease in the elderly is a condition that mainly affects those between 60 and 70 years old.

It is an illness that affects the brain and nerves and causes weakness that gets worse over time. There is no cure, and it can usually shorten life expectancy. With appropriate support, a person with motor neurone disease, or MN disease, can have a good quality of life. Symptoms of motor neurone disease include slurred speech, weakness in the limbs,  and muscle cramps. The cells in the brain and nerves called ‘motor neurones’ are affected, and management of the condition ay include physiotherapy, support from a speech and language therapist and a specialist carer. We can assist and find you a specially trained live in carer for the elderly to help your loved one manage their motor neurone disease in an environment where they feel safe, secure, and most importantly, at home!

Live in care for a person with motor neurone disease may include:

  • Everyday tasks such as cooking and cleaning
  • Help with dressing and getting ready for bed
  • Help in the morning getting dressed and preparing for the day
  • Personal care at home, such as washing and hair care
  • Transport to doctors appointments/ hospital
  • Help taking medication

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Depending on the severity of the stroke, somebody may be able to make a full recovery, but it may result in continued problems with mobility, speech and all normal functions. 

A person may be impacted by a stroke in such a way that they may not be able to walk unaided or may struggle speaking. Post-stroke care may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Your speech, mobility and personal care needs may be affected by a stroke, and elderly live-in care can be personally tailored to match the needs of your loved one and focus on assisting in their recovery.  It can be hard when a loved one needs help with day to day tasks after previously having full capacity which is why personal care and support should be provided in such a way  to maintain  dignity and promote independence.

Post-stroke care at home can assist with:

  • Any mobility tasks that may become difficult after a stroke
  • Preparing, cooking and eating meals
  • Tidying up and general household cleaning
  • Helping with rehabilitation with brain activities and conversation
  • Transport to doctors appointments/hospital
  • Help taking medication

Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart. It can lead to heart failure and heart attacks if not carefully managed, which is why individuals may benefit from a live in carer who is familiar with these conditions.  With the right care and support, somebody with this cardiovascular disease can continue to live an independent and full life. However, with symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and pain throughout the body, some everyday tasks and self care routines can become painful or increasingly difficult which may mean that it impacts on other aspects of health. Heart disease care options can include day to day support, which may only be needed for a few hours of the day, for example. An individual may benefit from  domiciliary care to help manage everyday tasks that leave your loved one breathless and in pain.

Heart disease care at home can assist with:

  • Daily visits to check in on a person’s wellbeing
  • Assistance with tasks that can cause shortness of breath or discomfort
  • Help with daily exercise or movement to keep the blood flowing
  • Transport to doctors appointments/ hospital
  • Help taking medication

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a neurological condition that affects the brain, the spinal cord, and arm and leg movement as well as vision and balance. It is usually diagnosed in people aged 20 to 40 and symptoms include muscle stiffness, fatigue, difficulty walking, numbness and tingling in parts of the body, blurred vision, problems with the bladder, spasms, and issues with coordination, thinking and planning. The exact disabilities caused by this condition are dependent on the individual, and for elderly people with MS, it can be a difficult condition to manage. A specialist carer can provide care is specifically aimed at the needs of the individual.

Multiple sclerosis care at home can assist with:

  • Meal preparation
    Personal care
  • Keeping the home clean and safe
  • Helping with shopping
    Transport to doctors appointments/ hospital
  • Help taking medication

Osteoporosis is a heart condition that weakens bones, making them fragile over time. It develops slowly over time, and sometimes is only recognised when somebody has a bad fall and breaks a bone. It affects the wrists, hips and spinal bones. Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis than men, and can weaken bones over time, and may need to be monitored closely after a few years. A specialist elderly carer can assist in managing everyday tasks, and also help to ensure fall prevention in the home, keeping an eye on your loved one to prevent them from putting themselves into a dangerous or compromising situation.

Chapter 7

What are the typical reasons somebody chooses elderly live in care?

The typical reasons for elderly live in care include…

Daily tasks or become difficult without help

Of course, the most common reason why an elderly person requires home care is because they need assistance in day to day tasks. Depending on their mobility, an elderly person may need help with cooking, cleaning, getting dressed and preparing for the day. Important tasks such as administering medication on time can also be fully managed by an elderly live in carer.

To stay in your own home

A common reason why many elderly people choose live-in care services is because elderly live in care is less disruptive. Moving into a care home brings in a lot of change; it involves leaving your home and familiar surroundings, to move into a shared care facility where life will be scheduled according to others. Although this may be a more suitable option for some people who are more vulnerable, others may prefer to stay in their own home and opt for live-in home help for the elderly, instead.

Couples who wish to stay together

Elderly live-in care is often a preferred option for elderly couples who are in need of some form of home help or care, but do not want to be separated from each other. Depending on circumstance, it can be hard to negotiate care home options which allow an elderly couple to live together. Live-in care services can provide the perfect solution for elderly couples, allowing them to stay in the comfort of their own home and be cared for as they should be. Live in care for couples is usually far less expensive than a care home, as a single live in carer can provide support for two people at only a marginally higher cost for a single person.

Out of hospital

If your loved one has recently been in hospital for a long period of time, and is making the transition to home care, then temporary live in elderly care will allow your loved one to enjoy a relaxed recovery at home. Trained and skilled carers can ensure a smooth transition to make sure they are as comfortable as possible, with any specific needs considered and provided by a dedicated elderly carer.

After an illness

Occasionally, a person may require temporary elderly live-in care following an illness or a fall. Some illnesses may result in you or your loved one needing extra help or specialist care to aid recovery. This temporary care is called intermediate care, re-enablement or aftercare and can be precisely what is required after an illness. This care will usually be provided by the NHS for the first few weeks following an illness, but after a few weeks you may need to source alternative care for your loved one.

Chapter 8

Live-in care vs care home - which is right for me?

If your loved one needs elderly care, you may find yourself choosing between a care home and elderly live-in care. There’s a lot to think about; how much will it cost? How happy will my loved one be? Is elderly live-in care better than a care home?

Pros of elderly live in care

You can stay in your own home.

A major reason people choose live in care is the fact that a client can stay in their own home. This means there is minimal disruption to your loved one’s day to day routine.

You receive one-on-one care

With elderly live in care, your loved one will receive one-on-one care from a specialist carer. This means the carer is there for them and can help them as and when they need, without having to think about anybody else. Depending on their condition or any illnesses they may have, having a specially selected carer who they are familiar and comfortable with can make the world of difference, compared to living in a care home where they will encounter many different people at different times of the day.

You avoid upheaval and change

It can be confusing and distressing for somebody to leave their  home, and such a big change can make your loved one feel even more vulnerable than they may already feel. The security of familiar surroundings is very important to some people and is one of the main reasons why so many people choose live-in home help for the elderly rather than the alternative.

It is better for couples

Elderly couples tend to prefer live-in care as it means they can stay at home, together, instead of being separated for whatever reason. It can be hard to negotiate a couple living in the same room or same section of a care home, and can cause couples to feel more distant from one another compared to being in their own home.

You can receive specialist care for your illness

Care homes will have specialist carers for certain illnesses, however as these carers will also be caring for all residents, they may also need to speak to a career who will be less aware of their needs. For those needing specialist dementia care, for example, dementia home care may be a better option.

You can easily arrange transport to appointments

If your loved one is living at home, the only client the live-in carer is thinking about is them! This makes it far easier to schedule appointments and to get around; in comparison, care homes often have to rely on ambulances and minibuses, which can mean that appointments may have to be arranged long in advance to ensure the right staff are on hand to get your loved one where they need to go.

You can create your own schedule

Another reason why an elderly person may  prefer live in care at home is that they don’t have to keep to the schedule of a care home. In care homes, there will be certain times that you need to wake up, wash and have breakfast depending on the staff schedules. This isn’t a concern with live-in home care.

You can keep any pets and have them looked after

If your loved one has a pet, then you don’t need to worry about who will care for them if they have a live-in carer. Care homes rarely if ever allow pets, which can mean your loved one is separated from their pets, causing unnecessary distress. Depending on the type of care they receive and their own ability to care for an animal, a live in carer for elderly people can also help them take care of your animal.

Pros of a care home

You are living in a safe and secure environment tailored for your needs

You can receive specialist care from multiple carers

You have assured peace of mind with carers on hand 24 hours a day

Cons of a care home

Communal spaces

Less privacy

More difficult and expensive for couples

Not an option for pets

Care cannot be provided on a one-on-one bases

Set schedules

You are not in your own home

Less flexibility with mealtimes and food options

Chapter 9

How much does live-in care cost? A financial guide to the costs of elderly live in care

A financial guide to the costs of elderly live in care

Typical rates for elderly live in care

Types of care Personal Care Night Care Live-in Care
Mon - Fri Weekends Mon - Fri Weekends Companionship Personal Care Intensive Care
Per Hour £20 £25 £22 £27 n/a n/a n/a
Per Day £160 £200 £264 £324 £127 £157 £178

Important note: The above figures may be subject to change, depending on external factors such as inflation, Government legislation, and the exact nature of the care provided.

Over £23,250

Your loved one will need to pay for their own fees as they qualify as a ‘self-funder’.

Between £14,250 and £23,250

Your loved one will qualify for support if they fall into this bracket. They will pay a contribution from their income, including your pension. They will also need to pay tariff income, the amount of which depends on the amount of capital they have.

Less than £14,250

The council provides the necessary financial support, with additional contribution from your loved one’s income. Your loved one doesn’t need to pay tariff income.

Chapter 10

Elderly live in care resources- helpful links and information

If you are coming to the conclusion that elderly live-in care may be needed for your parent or loved one, it can be a challenging and worrying time and you may have a lot of questions. Below we’ve provided some helpful resources to help to manage an elderly parent, relative or loved one, to help you ascertain the best way forward in a way that is least distressing for everyone involved.

Chapter 11

Steps to arrange live in care for the elderly

Tell us what you need

First, we still speak to you to find out your situation and find out the service that best suits the situation. During this conversation, we will find out whether live-in care is suitable, before asking a number of questions to fully understand the service that’s required.  

Get to know each other

We will then ask a number of additional questions to fully understand your needs so that we can define the service that’s required and ensure everybody is on the same page.  

Match your needs with a carer

When you are ready for us to do so, we will then reach out to our network of carers to establish their availability  of carers who match in terms of skills, experience and personality. We will then send you the profiles of the carer or carers who have volunteered and then discuss further.  At this stage it’s important for us to know your ideal start date.

Meet your live-in carer

We will arrange a time for you to meet the carer which can be done over the phone or via zoom or video call.  We can also arrange for a choice of carers and you need only go ahead when you are happy with the carer.

Start date and 2 week trial

The next step is to organise travel arrangements, and make sure that all parties have all the information they need. For the first two weeks and beyond, we will keep in regular contact with you and the and the carer, to ensure things are progressing nicely. 

How we find you the perfect carer

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