Have you thought about Live-in Care as an alternative care type for you or an ageing member of your family? In this post, we will dive deep into Live-in care and everything you need to know about it.
In a world of options on what type of care would be best suitable for you or your ageing loved ones, one has stood out and is becoming more and more popular as the years go by. It is known as Live-in care.
So, what is Live-in care and why is it a good alternative to other more popular options like care homes and residential homes? You may ask.
Here’s a description:
Live-in Care is when someone needs full-time care and wants to remain in their own home. It’s a care-at-home service tailored to your needs and wishes and provided by well-trained staff who shares the same passion for helping each client live well and enjoy life independently at home.
A live-in carer lives with you in your own home and allows you, or your loved one, to stay in the place you know best, for as long as you want.
Why is it becoming Popular?
According to statistics from The Office of National Statistics, there are currently over 300 people of pensionable age for every 1,000 people of working age.
By 2037 there will be 365 people of pensionable age for every 1,000 people of working age.
This shows that the UK population is booming and we are all living longer than ever before.
Also, The Office for National Statistics has predicted a 36% growth in over 85’s between 2015 and 2025, from 1.5 to 2 million across the UK, many of whom will have significant health problems.
It is universally accepted that staying at home is, for the vast majority of people, the preferred option. Promoting independence, avoiding or reducing hospital admissions and keeping people in the place they know and love best among their friends and family.
What these statistical data means is that there are more and more people needing care in later life, and no doubt this will lead to a substantial increase in demand for care.
Compared to Residential care homes, Live-in care stands out. The former can be very high quality, but they aren’t the best option for everyone and statistics show they certainly aren’t the preferred choice for most.
There are also issues with the NHS over bed blocking, which is where the hospital is put under extra strain because they have no choice but to keep a person in the hospital as there isn’t somewhere for them to go which provides adequate care.
With this in mind, it is only obvious that more and more people are opting for alternatives and they are gravitating towards care options that enable a more tailored approach with all the flexibility they would love.
Live-in care has become the go-to option for a number of reasons. Here are some of the reasons people prefer it:
- 1 on 1 Care – The person has 1 on 1 care from their caregiver, ensuring their needs are consistently monitored and met. Whether it is health needs or emotional needs, the person is looked after all the time.
- Independence – Carers are there to help their client retain independence. Whether that is going shopping, going to local hobby clubs or visiting friends, a person is able to maintain their independence and sense of self in later life with live-in care.
- Staying With Partners – Live-in care helps partners who have been together for many years stay together. Residential care can cause partners to be separated which can be incredibly distressing for those involved.
- Staying With Pets – A high number of people have to give up their pets when they go into residential care. This can be a terrible ordeal for most people, and even cause depression for some others. With live-in care, people are able to stay with their beloved companions.
- Staying With Memories – A home is not just bricks and mortar, it holds memories, as do the possessions within them. Live-in care enables a person to stay close to all that they hold dear to them.
- Combating Loneliness – A good percentage of elderly people tend to suffer from loneliness. Live-in care helps to eliminate that feeling of loneliness because one is able to remain near friends and family, and has constant companionship plus a sense of self.
- Maintaining Control – It is easy for people to feel they have lost control of their lives when they go into care homes. They don’t have a say in when they get up, go to bed or eat; sometimes not even what they wear. Live-in care helps them maintain that level of control over their lives in the comforts of their own homes.
- Staying Healthy – Live-in care has many health benefits including helping people avoid falling, helping them avoid dementia, and helping them stay active. This makes for a better quality of life long-term.
What does a Live-in Carer do?
Your live-in carer will support you or your relative with your specific needs to keep you comfortable and independent at home. Ideally, the live-in carers and companions should be able to do and help with:
- Personal Care and Specialist Medical Care
- Dietary and Nutritional needs
- Companionship and Support
- Housekeeping and Other Daily Domestic Tasks
Whether it’s helping with personal care, keeping on top of the chores or moving around the house. Many of our carers at Joyful Care become rocks to their clients, enabling them to live the way they want every day.
Before we go further, see in detail about Joyful Care and how our live-in care service works.
Moving on,
What are the limits of what live-in carers can do?
Live-in carers are social care professionals, not nursing professionals.
They’re able to support with personal care tasks such as washing, diary planning and household tasks, Prompting the client on when it’s time to take their medication but are unable to administer medication or perform a range of tasks undertaken by a medical professional.
Who may need live-in care?
Live-in care can be beneficial for just about anybody with care needs. It means someone is there 24/7 to ensure you or your loved one is happy and well looked after. Providing them comfort and companionship as well as helping them with day-to-day tasks and making sure they’re safe.
Conditions that may require live-in care
- Heart disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Palliative
- Knee and Hip Replacement
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Spinal Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Autism
- Visual Impairment
- Brain Injury
- Learning Disability
- Down Syndrome and many other conditions in which an individual cannot perform everyday tasks by themselves may require live-in care service
It is also an ideal choice for couples who wish to stay together. Research by Age UK found that elderly people are 1.6 times more likely to experience loneliness if they live alone. Live-in care allows couples to stay together in their home for longer.
What types of live-in care exist?
Live-in care includes different types of home care for various care needs and conditions. Here we run through some of the most common arrangements that may be available to seekers.
- 24-hour live-in care
24-hour live-in care is available for those with more advanced care needs. If your loved one requires around-the-clock care – day and night – then 24-hour care would provide you with the reassurance they’re being consistently cared for.
While all live-in carers are on-hand 24 hours per day, you may need further assistance if your loved one has more intensive care needs.
- Respite care
Respite care is where a substitute carer steps in for a limited amount of time. It allows primary caregivers to take time for themselves and their well-being while helping to ensure minimal disruption in routine.
- Complex live-in care
For complex conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s, complex live-in care, where a professional move into the home to support with social care needs, is ideal for ensuring your loved one receives the specialist support they require, while still retaining independence over their routine in the familiarity of their home.
- Companionship care
With loneliness in the elderly becoming a concern, it’s essential to ensure your loved one is happy, secure and cared for. Companionship care provides your loved one with a friend who can talk to them and help them keep in touch with friends and family.
- Palliative care
For people facing life-limiting conditions, palliative care at home can help to ensure people living with these illnesses remain supported, comforted and cared for in their own homes. It’s all about ensuring every single moment of someone’s life is maximized.
- Convalescent care
Having the extra care and support needed after a surgery or hospital stay is important. Convalescent care is a short-term care solution, allowing people to receive the care they need, after illness or injury, in their own homes.
- Emergency home care
This type of care plays an important role should your primary carer become ill or need to take respite at short notice. Emergency home care is a type of live-in care that’s available at short notice, to get your loved one the support they need as quickly as possible.
- Intermediate care
The NHS provides intermediate care for a period of up to six weeks, following a hospital stay and with the purpose of rehabilitation. You can make your wishes known to receive this type of care at home and ensure your loved one recovers in their own space.
How much does Live-in Care Service Cost in the Uk?
It is no easy fit to put a specific number on what it costs to hire a carer to live and take care of you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the price varies with the level of needs and the provider.
Typically getting 24-hour live-in care from a well-rated provider in the UK, can start at around £800 per week and can go up to over £1,800 per week. This is bound to rise if two or more people need caring at the same time.
Per hour for daytime care may start from as low as £20 for a single person and £25 for waking in
Research of over 100 respite care service providers showed that the average cost to have live-in care coverage throughout the week was around £700-£800 per week. This average live-in home carer cost is based on one individual needing care. Where there was a couple or more than one person, the cost rose to the region of £1,200 – £1,500 per week for respite.
Have a look at a detailed breakdown of what our live-in care service costs at Joyful Care here.
How to pay for a live-in care cost in the UK
The costs of a live-in caregiver in the UK can be pricey, given the value proposition of a one to one support in your own home.
If you are looking at ways to pay the costs of a live-in caregiver in the UK then we would recommend that you speak to a specialist care costs funding advisor. They will help ensure that:
- You get all the benefits and State help you are entitled to, and
- You use the most effective way to fund the costs and ensure that any inheritance tax is minimised, and
- Depending on the severity of the care needs, the NHS is responsible for meeting the costs of personal care. This is through NHS Continuing Healthcare funding. We would strongly recommend that you read up on this subject as if there is a continuing healthcare need, then you may not be responsible for paying and funding the care services.
Could you claim a personal health budget?
As of October 2014, individuals receiving NHS Continuing Healthcare have been able to claim a personal health budget. The money provided may be used to set up a care package with an independent care provider like us, with the support of your local NHS team.
Good research is advised regarding this to enable you to make take the right steps for yourself or your loved one. Read more on detailed means of paying for live-in care here.
Are there any disadvantages of live-in care?
Despite its many positive points, live-in care does have several important disadvantages that need to be considered carefully before making a decision.
Looking at live-in care in a realistic and holistic manner, some of the drawbacks include:
- Cost of home modifications
If you plan on staying at home for an extended period of time. Will it still be suitable in years to come? For those living in a large or older property, it’s important to consider whether modifications need to be made.
These kinds of changes can be costly and disruptive. Many older people experience mobility issues later in life, so mobility modifications will be required.
It’s worth bearing in mind that small properties or homes in need of renovation may need changes to be made in order to access live-in care in the first place. You’ll need room for your live-in carer to spend time in when they aren’t with you
- Lack of funding support
Live-in care isn’t supported by as many funding options as residential care. It is classed as private care, so you will be expected to pay for most or all of it yourself. Personal budgets or direct payments may be provided depending on eligibility.
With or without this, you’ll need to have sufficient funds to pay for live-in care in the long term.
You can of course use benefits, welfare payments and pensions towards the cost of care. As a couple, you can combine funds, which may make it easier to pay.
- Pressure on Inheritance
Using a finite fund such as savings to pay for your care naturally reduces the amount you’ll have to pass on as inheritance.
If you choose to pay for live-in care by releasing equity in your home you also won’t be able to leave your property to your loved ones. This can be a big concern for many. But it’s important to prioritise your needs now rather than worrying about what you will leave for your relatives.
- Space and Privacy
Your live-in carer will require a sufficient private space of their own to spend time in by themselves and have breaks away from the role. You might not want to make space or simply can’t if you have a smaller property.
You should also consider how comfortable you are with sharing your space with a stranger. Cohabitation can be difficult, especially when you don’t know the person or have lived by yourself for some time.
As said earlier, it isn’t surprising that live-in care is becoming so much more popular, especially as it becomes more widely known as an option. It provides an excellent quality of life for a person, enabling them to maintain control, health and happiness. It also gives much greater peace of mind to family members who are unable to care for their relatives themselves.