The UK has an ageing population, which means that more and more people require extra assistance and care. Medical conditions and the natural ageing process can cause the elderly to become frail and put them in danger. Older people need to be looked after in a secure, affordable way, and Live-in Care is a clever solution to this problem.
In today’s post we will discuss some of its benefits, and show why this may be the option for you.
What is Live-in Care?
Personal alarms are great for the elderly, disabled, and those who live alone. They provide you with an easy way of finding help should you fall or take a turn for the worse medically; you simply push the button around your wrist or neck. Having an alarm also means that you can remain living in your own home.
Sometimes however, your predicament may mean that having a personal alarm on its own may not be enough. A decline in health or well-being may mean that you need a physical carer and your personal alarm, doubling the support that you receive.
The Live-in Care scheme sees a professional carer move into your, or your loved one’s, home. The service provider will work with your family to help find a suitable carer for your needs. They take your personality, medical history and health requirements into consideration.
Your Live-in Carer’s responsibilities will depend on the level of care that is required. Generally, they will assist with the following:
- Meals.
- Personal hygiene.
- Getting dressed.
- Household cleaning.
- Mobility.
- Medication.
- Errands.
Your carer will work through shift patterns, to ensure that they’re also getting the rest they need. A Live-in Carer will live with you a set amount of weeks, take time off, and then return for a further time block. During their break, another ‘respite’ carer moves in to take care of you.
1. Companionship
Perhaps the main benefit of a Live-in Care service is companionship. As we’re all too aware, loneliness is a huge problem among older people. It is believed that more than half of over-75s live alone, with around one million Britons thought to be suffering from loneliness. This is a problem. Loneliness can cause issues such as heart problems and depression.
The Live-in Care service sees a qualified carer move into your home. They will have been chosen carefully to match your personality, meaning that you’re highly-likely to become good friends during their time with you. You’ll have somebody with you everyday, instead of waking up to an empty house and having nobody to talk to.
A carer can quickly become a companion. You’ll be eating together, watching TV together and perhaps even playing games together. You’ll have somebody to discuss the hot topics of the day with, rather than sitting in silence.
Your carer can also help you to get out and about. They can drive you to groups and activities in your local area, where you can enjoy yourself and make more friends who have a similar interest to you. Simply being able to get out and about can help remove any lonely feelings.
2. Stay in your Own Home
Older people having to move out of their home and into care accommodation is not a positive thing. They’re forced into leaving their memories behind and even some of their possessions depending on the size of the care home they’re about to move in to.
Your own home is where you feel the most comfortable and secure, especially if you’ve lived there for a long time. It may have been your first home with your partner, where you played with and saw your grandchildren grow up, or a personal project that you made you’re own over the years.
With a Live-In Care arrangement, you can remain in the comfort of your own home. The care and support you need comes to you. This can go a long way to ensure that you’re okay with your new care arrangements. Being at home will ensure that you continue to feel happy and confident during these changing times – needing daily support may have been a sudden requirement due to injury or health.
Of course, if you have a pet it also means that you get to keep it! If a care home was the only option, you may have been forced to give your pet away – which would be heartbreaking for many.
Being at home can go a long way. It’s vital that older people feel confident, secure and happy, and being in their own home can do just that.
3. Care Dedicated to you
Another benefit of having Live-in Care is that you receive personalised, dedicated support. Your carer is there to look after you, nobody else. Compare this to a busy care home with hundreds of residents, outnumbering staff by a large amount in some cases.
Each carer may have several people to support every day. This makes it difficult for them to always find the time to come and see you, as well as keep track of all your personal requirements. As we know from media reports, care home staff are under a lot of pressure and mistakes can unfortunately happen.
With a Live-in Care service you’ll have no such problem. Your carer only has you to support and care for. They will understand your requirements and what things that they need to particularly be aware of. It’s a personalised experience, and you will reap the benefits of that.
Looking for Live-in Care?
If you feel that you or a loved one may benefit from Live-in Care please do give our team a call today 0800 999 0400. We can explain more about the service and begin your journey to having an experienced carer in your own home. Alternatively, send an email at info@lifeconnect24.co.uk.
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