How Does Live-In Care Work?

Live-in care involves having a fully-trained carer in your home, providing around-the-clock support for personal, health and emotional needs. The carer typically works 8-10 hours daily but is available 24/7 for emergencies. Live-in care offers an alternative to assisted living or nursing facilities. But how exactly does live-in care work?

What is Live-In Care? The Essential Guide For 2024

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What Are Live-In Carers Responsible For?

Live-in carers have several responsibilities, depending on the client’s requirements. Their primary duty is to provide personalised, round-the-clock care. The daily tasks might include help with personal care, meal preparation, medication assistance, and emotional support. In some cases, carers also help with household chores, though their primary focus is the wellbeing of the person they care for.

Contrary to some may think, live-in carers do not live rent-free in exchange for their services. In fact, they do not pay rent at all; their accommodation is part of their remuneration package. They also don’t typically buy their own food but instead share meals with their client in most cases. Read more about this in our comprehensive guides on Does a Live-in Carer Pay Rent?, and Do Live-in Carers Buy Their Own Food?

What Kind of Space Does a Live-In Carer Require?

Live-in carers generally need a private space to rest and rejuvenate during downtime. A separate bedroom is often the norm, with access to the necessary facilities such as a bathroom and kitchen. For more on this, refer to our guide on Where do Live-In Carers Sleep?

What Is the Cost of Live-In Care?

Live-in care costs can vary depending on the level of care required, the duration of the engagement, and the region. Our comprehensive guide on The Cost of Live-in Care provides an overview of the factors affecting costs. Meanwhile, this comparison article Is Live-in Care Cheaper Than a Care Home? weighs the cost-effectiveness of live-in care against the cost of a care home.

How to Find the Right Live-In Carer?

Finding the perfect match for a live-in carer requires a diligent process. At PrimeCarers, we can take you through this process with our detailed guide on ‘How Do I Hire a Live-in Carer?‘. It includes resourceful information on what qualities to seek in a carer and how to interview potential candidates.

How Does Live-In Care Differ from Nursing Home Care?

One of the most significant differences between live-in care and a nursing home is the environment—the client stays in the comfort of their own home. Plus, the one-on-one care provided by live-in carers is mostly personalised. Our blog post, ‘What’s the difference between live-in care and a nursing home?‘ helps delineate these differences further.

Can Live-In Care Be Temporary?

Live-in care can be temporary or permanent based on the client’s needs. You can engage a carer for a few weeks or months to cover for periods when primary carers are unavailable. More about this in our post, ‘Can I hire a live-in carer temporarily?‘.

The Drawbacks of Live-In Care

While live-in care has numerous benefits, knowing the potential challenges is crucial. Privacy loss, for instance, can be a concern for some clients. We discuss such concerns candidly in our post on ‘What are the Disadvantages of Live-in Care?‘.

Closing Thoughts

Live-in care is about providing physical support and emotional reassurance that greatly enhances the quality of life for the elderly or those in need. By understanding how live-in care works and carefully matching clients with the right carers, platforms like PrimeCarers can revolutionise the outlook on eldercare. We hope this blog post serves as a useful resource on your journey to finding the perfect live-in care solution.