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Live-in care means a professional carer moves into the home of the person they support. Instead of short visits at set times, the carer is part of the household: there for the morning routine, meals, outings and the evening, and close by overnight.
For many families it is the alternative to a care home that they did not know existed. This guide explains how it works in practice.
How does live-in care work?
After an assessment of needs, a carer is matched on skills, experience and personality, then moves into a spare room. They support the person with whatever they need help with, and step back when they don't - the aim is to keep people doing as much for themselves as they safely can.
Carers take a daily break and work on a rota, typically a few weeks on followed by time off. When a carer goes on their break, a replacement carer takes over so care never stops.
What does a live-in carer do?
- Personal care - washing, dressing, continence and toileting
- Cooking, shopping and making sure meals and drinks are actually eaten
- Medication prompts and noticing changes in health
- Company, conversation and getting out of the house
- Laundry, light cleaning and keeping the home running
- Going along to appointments and keeping family informed
- Help during the night when it is occasional rather than constant
Who is live-in care suitable for?
It suits people who need help through the day but want to stay at home: people living with dementia, for whom a familiar setting reduces confusion; couples who would otherwise be split between care homes; and people recovering from a stay in hospital or living with a long-term condition such as Parkinson's or MS.
What does the household need to provide?
A private bedroom for the carer, access to a bathroom, Wi-Fi so they can keep in touch with their own family, and food for the carer while they are working. Everything else - the routine, the meals, the way the house runs - stays as the person wants it.
How much does live-in care cost?
With us, live-in care costs £1,300 a week for standard care and £1,450 for specialist care, depending on the level of care needed. For one person that is often similar to a good care home; for a couple it is usually much less than two care home places.
How is it different from a care home?
The biggest difference is attention. In a care home, staff divide their time between many residents. A live-in carer is there for one person, or one couple. Their own bed, their own garden, their pets and their neighbours all stay part of daily life, and family can visit whenever they like.