There are many misconceptions about how live-in care works, the process of finding the perfect live-in carer for each couple or individual, and how we, as a home care provider, ensure that each care recipient has superb quality care while protecting the live-in carer’s right to rest breaks and downtime.
Rather than guaranteeing 24-hour care and around-the-clock on-demand assistance, live-in care is a carefully structured and fully managed service with agreed rotas, schedules, and duties put in place beforehand. This ensures everybody is assured of what to expect and that this meets their expectations.
A Typical Day for a Live-In Care Assistance Professional
Many live-in carers are highly experienced and transition to a dedicated live-in care assistance position after years in alternative placements, such as working within a domiciliary care team, a residential care facility, or an overnight care role.
Importantly, a live-in carer is never required to be on duty continuously and instead works a defined number of hours, normally between eight and ten hours a day, depending on the needs of their client and the types of personal care routines and tasks they need help with.
Of course, this means that our care coordinators have in-depth discussions with the care recipient and their loved ones to ensure we have a complete grasp of where the support of a live-in carer would add the most value – ensuring this assistance is customised and covers the key care needs of the person.
The big contrast with other one-to-one care services is that the live-in carer remains on the property overnight and often when off duty. They can respond to emergencies if they arise, providing peace of mind that a capable, kind, and qualified carer is always on hand.
Although live-in carers and their care recipients have great flexibility and versatility in adjusting their schedules based on social engagements, planned activities, or events, they also both have the right to privacy.
For instance, a live-in carer will have a minimum number of off-duty hours each day and week. If the care recipient requires around-the-clock support, the ideal solution is often to put together a team of the very best carers, alternating duties to ensure continual support without an excessive time burden on one carer.
Understanding Sleeping Arrangements and Holidays for Live-in Carers
Depending on the preferences and availability of the carer and the person we are organising care for, we might recommend various ways to structure the service. That might involve:
- Set hours per day when a carer is off-duty and not expected to be available or in the home – often when a partner or relative assumes responsibility for looking after the needs of the care recipient.
- Organising care breaks and rest based on preferred sleeping hours or times when a couple wishes to enjoy privacy and relaxation without a carer on hand.
- Implementing blanket care coverage with two or more carers working on a rota basis, often with a block of four weeks working, two weeks off.
Live-in carers should always have a private room for sleeping, ensuring they have time to switch off and rest between working shifts.
Ideally, that will include storage for clothing and personal items, a comfy bed, a designated work area for administrative tasks and care planning, and direct access to bathroom facilities.
Our talented care coordinators can provide further advice about preparing a room for a live-in carer or finding the best ways to ensure your home has ample space to allow privacy for all parties while ensuring the carer is easy to contact in an urgent scenario.
Contrasts Between General and Specialist Live-in Care Assistance
Some families require live-in care to support the needs of a loved one with a more complex condition or diagnosis, with many people living with Dementia, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis, as examples, keen to protect their independence and remain at home.
Putting the right care in place can significantly improve quality of life, with bespoke support from a care provider or team of live-in carers with expertise in caring for people with complex care requirements.
We are proud to uphold an industry-leading training program and can offer advice on what live-in care assistance involves and how this can be adapted to assist a family member who needs extra help or additional support related to their condition.
Otherwise, live-in carers do not always provide nursing care. Still, they are skilled in managing medication, providing companionship, mobility support, and domiciliary care, helping with appointments, shopping, and meal preparation, and ensuring the care recipient is happy, safe, and well.
The Importance of Clear Communication When Organising Private Live-in Care
Live-in care assistance has to work for the care recipient, their family and the hand-selected carer – and both you and the care professional may need to agree on how care provision will work around bank holidays, festive periods, and over pre-planned time away from work.
This depth of discussion prior to starting a live-in care assistance arrangement is essential since it ensures that the carer will know that the role, requirements, and responsibilities involved are a great fit for their knowledge, experience, and availability, and the family will have the confidence that the live-in carer or care team we select will be committed to the role.
Putting care planning and support packages in place means that live-in care services are suitable for all and include contact with our local teams and care coordinators to ensure that, should the needs of the care recipient change, these can be managed effectively.
For more information about how we manage live-in care services, the expertise and personal traits we look for in high-quality live-in carers, or to discuss the live-in care requirements of yourself or a loved one, you are welcome to contact the Guardian Angel Carers team, or your nearest territory to arrange a convenient time to talk.