These days, we are all living longer. On one hand, this is great news, but it also means that as we get older, we are all likely to need some additional care and support.
Arranging appropriate care for an elderly relative can be a big dilemma for family members. Often the relative is too frail to stay in their own home unsupported, but many people are reluctant to turn to residential care homes. This can be for a number of reasons – fear of causing upset or confusion for the relative, having to separate a married couple, or concerns about safety and wellbeing which are exacerbated by media stories of abuse and neglect.
In light of this, many people are turning to a new solution – live in carers , or ‘au pairs’ for the elderly.
Live in care companies provide an around-the-clock care worker who lives in the client’s home. The carer provides a package of personal care and household management services (for example, cooking, cleaning, bathing, administering medicines) based on the client’s individual needs. As well as having someone on hand at all times to meet their care and support needs, elderly clients also benefit from the companionship provided by the carer – particularly important given the concerns around loneliness in our elderly population.
Although it is still much smaller than the care home industry, the live in care industry is undoubtedly growing as families grow aware of the advantages it can offer.
Safety
When arranging care for a family member, people want be assured that their loved one is safe and well-looked after. With live in care, there is somebody on hand to take care of their every need 24/7, and this has been proven to have a positive impact on health and safety. On average, elderly people receiving live in care suffer a third fewer falls and a quarter fewer hip fractures than those in residential care homes.
Independence and familiarity
One of the great advantages of live in care, is the independence it offers the client. The client develops a personalised care plan in conjunction with their carer, and they are supported to continue with their daily routine and maintain control over different elements of their life, such as what to eat, when to go to bed, and who to visit. Unlike in a care home, the client also benefits from being in familiar surroundings – something that’s particularly important for people suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Comparable costs
People tend to think that hiring a live in carer will be prohibitively expensive but in reality this is not often the case. Fees vary depending on the level of support needed, but they tend to be comparable to a good quality care home – and for that money, the client gets a lot more companionship and one-to-one support than they would in a residential setting. The real savings can be seen when a live in carer is hired to look after a couple, which is a lower cost than finding two separate care home places.
Rewarding career
With such advantages, it’s little wonder that the live in care industry is booming. Of course, as more and more people realise the benefits of live in care, the industry will need an increased number of carers to meet this demand. What’s important is that this gap is filled by qualified, well-trained professionals who are committed to meeting the needs of their clients.
Being a live in carer can be a really rewarding career, offering the satisfaction of enabling somebody to remain independent and continue enjoying their life to the best of their abilities. At Independent People Homecare, our carers benefit from good rates of pay, continuous training and long term career prospects.
We’re always looking for dedicated and compassionate carers to add to our team, so if this is something that interests you, please get in touch. We’d love to help you get started on rewarding, fulfilling career as a live in carer.