When a loved one needs more support, but doesn’t quite feel ready to leave their own home, there are several options available for in-home care assistance. Often, the right solution is to find 24/7 caregiver support, as the person may not feel able or safe to cope alone. One option is to hire a live-in carer who is experienced in senior care and helping with a number of daily tasks and caregiving routines. This provides one-to-one continuity of care for various assisted daily living needs.
A live-in carer can help with a number of key tasks, including medication management, meal preparation and nutrition, bathing and dressing assistance and helping people access engaging activities and hobbies. The key to finding the right support is to choose a reputable care agency that specialises in providing full-time caregiving solutions. That way, you can be sure that you are working with certified and trained caregivers who know how to create and follow personalised care plans.
Finding the Right Match
As with any arrangement when two people sign up to spend a lot of time together in the comfort of home environment, it is important that you find a live-in carer who is compatible with you or your loved one and who shares at least some interests and common ground. After all, they will be sharing your home with you, or at least some areas of it. You should meet any potential live-in carers in advance, preferably more than once, to make sure that you can get on with each other. The carer should be willing to talk about their interests, values, life experiences and approach to caring, so that you can work out whether they would suit your needs and match your personality.
If you are choosing a carer on behalf of a loved one, it is a good idea to have that person present at the initial meetings – if that is possible and they have capacity. Always ask for and check references to make sure that the carer comes with a good track record. Let the potential carer ask you questions too. It has to be the right fit for them, or they will not be happy and may not stay in the role for long.
Qualifications and Experience
While professional dedicated care providers do not need specific qualifications in order to work, it is a good sign when a live-in carer can give proof that they have studied aspects of care work in order to provide a better, more informed and safer service. Basic qualifications like the Care Certificate is one form of proof. However, making sure that the person has the desired character traits and attributes is just as important. Behaviours and traits such as compassion, patience, kindness and a good sense of humour will make the whole experience nicer and easier for all parties involved.
The same goes for experience. The more experience a carer has in looking after people with the same or similar issues as yourself or your loved one, the more informed and better quality their support is likely to be. Again, this can be checked via references, as well as during the interview. Matching experiences can be useful when looking for a live-in carer with specific knowledge and skills around looking after someone with certain conditions. For example, dementia and Alzheimer’s care can be more complicated than dealing with other conditions, as can providing Parkinson’s disease support. Hiring someone who is already well-versed in working with people affected by these conditions can prove highly effective and rewarding. Equally, choosing someone who already knows how to carry out effective meal planning or vital signs monitoring means that you won’t have to spend a long time training them in these key areas.
Lifestyle, Schedules and Arrangements
Finally, initial conversations and arrangements must revolve around practical considerations as much as personality and caring duties. The carer will need to know where they will be sleeping, what kind of personal space they will have – and how much. Which days or nights will they have off, and what are the holiday arrangements if they want to take a longer period of time away?
Can they bring their own pets, or will they have to look after the person’s pets as part of their job? Will they need to drive? If so, they need to have the required driving licence and proof that they are careful and considerate on the road, for example, having no driving convictions or points on their licence. All of these questions should be raised and addressed as soon as possible to avoid problems further down the line.
