Live in carers?

[Knitwit101]

Does anyone still employ live in carers? My pil are struggling on their own. Mil especially. She's just fallen over again today getting out of bed. The care options are limited round their way so we are desperately trying to think of any possible solution.
Their house is actually quite well set up to give someone a room, private bathroom and sitting area. But how on earth would you find someone? Is live-in careeven a thing nowadays? It would probably be cheaper than 2 sets of care home fees and would mean they could stay at home.

If you have any experience of this sort of set up please would you tell me about it?

try this website here. the company have live in careers all over the UK.www.christiescare.com/live-in-care/live-in-home-care/

One person would find it impossible to provide FT care to 2 people live-in. How will that work with their time off? You'd still need someone to take over when the carer has time off, holidays, illness. It sounds like my idea of hell, being tethered to my employers constantly.

Country cousins is another company- contact your local social services who should be able to give you details of care providers in your area. No experience but I know it can be done.

I think that this is going to depend on on how much help they need. It could get very expensive.

To get live in care 24/7 like you would get in a care home you are going to need at least 3-4 people if working 40 hours a week with days off and holidays etc because you cannot have a single person working night and day, especially if they may need to be up in the night. Even if no night work is required you will need more than one person as the carers will need days off and their statutory 5.6 weeks holidays etc.

If you employ live-in carers you will become employers and be required to organise payroll and pay employers NI and deduct taxes etc, plus sick and possible maternity pay etc.

Lots of care companies provide live in carers. Talk to your social services and see what they suggest. They may even be able to refer you to some companies.
I used to do it in my 20's. Only caring for one disabled person though so not sure how it would work for two. Its usually a job share, 1 week on, one week off etc.

We have had live in 24 hours carer for my mum since the beginning of the year. She is 90 but doesn't really have any medical issues, other than being old ie: she has heart problems, balance issues, and is very, very grumpy!! We have always used local care agencies, three to date, but they keep getting taken over, which is a pain. We have had good carers, bad carers, and downright awful carers. Some have stayed a couple of weeks, some a few months. This is the downside of live-in carers, it is very claustrophobic and they need to get on with the olds. My mother is not easy, and will not have anyone "ethnic" or "black" (this also lately included "brown"), which is very embarrassing. So, it can work, it is expensive, only slightly less than a care home, but Mum won't go into one, we have tried three, and she checked herself out within days with each one, as they were full of sick old people .

Just to add IME, GP's, Social Services and Hospitals are all rubbish. They don't want to get involved, can't recommend any care providers, and are happy to discharge care when olds are clearly capable of checking themselves out of care homes, or hospital, and are allowed to leave in taxis...... my mum is apparently a "character" - helpful

My DM has dementia, has been living alone in sheltered accommodation (no communal areas but on-site managers) and has been deteriorating this year, so we spent the summer investigating live-in care options. Went with a local agency that were very good in all their communication with us, & clearly look after their staff as well as their clients. We wanted to go through an agency not least because we didn’t want all the associated work of being an employer. They guarantee to provide care 365 days a year. They took a lot of care to try to match DM with a suitable carer. They matched her with someone looking for a long-term placement & she has now been with DM a month. We all think she is wonderful & DM is so much happier & clearly benefitting. Carer has 2 hours off a day & 8 hours off one day a week. Up to us to find care to cover that if DM gets so she can’t be left. Costs are similar to residential care but this is so much better for DM & it’s what she wants.

Forgot to say that DM’s carer will do months at a stretch then have a period of time off, which will be filled by another carer/s from the agency.

We have had good experiences with country cousins and HomeInstead

Hope you find what you need

One person would find it impossible to provide FT care to 2 people live-in

Nope that's not true, it might be but absolutely depends on each individuals needs. In fact ... SW might suggest it in some cases and even arrange for LA to fund it!

PPs suggestions of contacting your local ASD is spot on. They can either give you booklet with list of local live in care providers -and there are MANY! - if you intend to self fund & just need information, or LA ASD will offer to assess to help you decide on appropriate available options.

And there are lots of different
companies who domsligjtky different models of live in care and arrangements tailored to individuals .

E.g. you can arrange additional.domicilkary carer visit cover for live in carer's 'hours off'during the day (usually 2-3hours/day) if clients are unsafe to be left alone even for short periods.

Ask for an assessment under The Care Act 2014, if you need advice/help in considering options or if you are entitled to LA funding help. Assessment is free. It's the arranging and care delivery that isn't as that depends on financial assessment, most people contribute something.

My elderly neighbour was looked after by live in carers from Country Cousins. They were very good although it is expensive.

To give you a ball park figure, live in carers seem to be popular round my area and pay around £6-700 per week