Find out about a great form of elderly care where a carer supports you whilst you remain in your own home. The elderly population is increasing rapidly, so much so that by 2040, 1 in 4 people in the UK will be elderly. This increase in the elderly brings a natural increase in the need for care.
The problem is, the current amount of residential homes and nursing homes cannot cope with the increase. The NHS is currently under great pressure because of the lack of care available. Take hips fractures for example, a common injury amongst the elderly.
There is known to be an increased risk of falls in care homes, and hip fractures cost the NHS over £2.3 billion pounds every single year. As well as the medical care, because of the lack of appropriate care available to discharge the patient into, the NHS end up holding elderly people in their beds much longer.
This is distressing for the patient, and uses up precious bed space in hospitals. To add to the problem, a study by the live-in care hub showed that 97% of people would prefer not to go into residential care if they were unwell or unable to care for themselves.
There is a clear need for an alternative to residential care. Is there an option to please patients, the NHS and to take the pressure off already overflowing residential homes?
There is: live-in care.
Live-in care is where a professional carer lives in your home and provides assistance in the tasks you require help with. This is distinct from home care services where the carer just visits your home to provide care. So, they can be available at any point throughout a 24 hour period apart from proper breaks.
Some carers remain in the job full time, whereas others live in the home on a rota basis, switching with another carer every 2 weeks or so. Live-in care is an exceptional alternative to residential home care. It means that you get to stay in your own home, avoiding the distress of leaving it behind to move into a care home.
You avoid having to leave any pets, or even a partner behind. You can stay as independent as is possible, living your life in the way that you want to. Your family also get peace of mind that you are safe in your home.
Is Live-in Care A Good Choice For Me?
- Live-in care could be a really great choice for you if:
- You need care, but don’t want to leave a partner or pet to go into residential care
- You require help with personal care such as help getting dressed
- You require help with nutrition (cooking, snacks etc)
- Managing your house requires a little help with things like cleaning
- You would appreciate the company
- You need help with mobility
- You would benefit from help to minimise your risk of falling
- You require help getting out and about to social events, appointments and to run errands
A live-in carer can provide you with a care package to suit your needs. It can include everything from basic care, all the way to accompaniment on holidays and inclusive of house cleaning, pet care and garden management.
Those with dementia can greatly benefit from live-in care because it avoids being taken away from the place the most familiar to you. It also enables you to live safely in your home, managing the risks that some kinds of dementia can bring.
I Think I Want Live-in Care, What Happens Next?
The first thing you need to do is get a care assessment. This will help get an official understanding of your needs. This will also help you find out the kind of help you could be entitled to from the government to pay for your care.
It is also important to look into all kinds of care, which you can do on the UK Care Guide as well as using their handy calculator to help you work out a rough idea of care costs. Most importantly, speak to friends and family who will help you make a decision and help you get the information you need.
Live-in care can help to support you in having the kinds of later life you deserve.