Guardian Carers Feature on BBC News London

What are the responsibilities of a live-in carer?

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Live-in carers are able to assist with a wide range of duties but mostly focus on maintaining the health and wellbeing of their clients. So while they will help with household chores their main duties will include things like medication management, assisting with physiotherapy exercises, taking the client to appointments and liaising with doctors, mobility support, grooming and personal care. Live-in carers are also a source of emotional support and friendship, it can be frustrating and very emotional for the client to accept that they now are in the position they need care. Being a source of comfort and a friend to lean on when they are having a bad day is an essential part of being a carer.

Live-in care provides personalised, one on one care that is flexible to the client’s everyday requirements. Live-in care ensures people are able to remain within their home, their community and maintain their schedule for as long as they wish. As a live-in carer, you are an integral part of ensuring that they are able to live their golden years in the way they wish.

As a live-in carer, you will be responsible to assist with almost everything such as:

  • making your favourite meals
  • organising and taking you to appointments
  • medication management
  • liaising with your doctors
  • personal care
  • mobility support
  • organising your laundry
  • helping with the hoovering
  • changing bed linen
  • ensuring your home is kept clean and organised

One on one care

A full-time home carer provides personalised, one on one care that is flexible to everyday requirements. A full-time home carer ensures you are able to remain within the home, the community and maintain the client’s schedule for as long as you wish. Living an independent life throughout the golden years and focusing on what is important to the client. With one on one care, the client knows they are receiving exactly the kind of care and assistance they need right there in the moment. Completely flexible to their needs day to day so they can live their golden years as fully and independently as possible.

Ensuring the safety of those in their care

Having a private full-time carer home gives the loved ones the added peace of mind that their clients are in safe, capable and experienced hands. Having an extra able-bodied adult within the home adds another level of security. A private full-time carer assures that there is someone on hand if a fall should happen at any point of the day and it also deters any uninvited visitors. Ensuring you feel safe and secure within your own home is a core aspect of elderly home care.

Expert and specialised care

A full-time carer for the elderly is an excellent option for those who are dealing with more serious health issues such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. A full-time carer for elderly are specially trained and have hands on experience in these areas and have a deeper understanding of ways in which to manage them and how to can handle issues and complications that may arise. They will also be more experienced than loved ones may be in dealing with more challenging situations that might arise. They are also able to guide clients through the changes that happen within themselves, providing reassurance and an understanding shoulder to lean on. Having someone in the home that you know you can rely on to be there in the difficult times, to be a source of comfort and support is an essential part of private full-time care.

Why work as a live-in carer?

While being a carer is an incredibly demanding, emotional and draining profession, it is also one of the most rewarding. Knowing that you are looking after someone so that they are able to stay in their home, within their community and surrounded by cherished positions and photographs that hold precious memories.

With your care and knowledge, you will be able to help guide your clients through adjustments within themselves that would be difficult to manage on their own. Whether they are dealing with the loss of a spouse, a decline in general health or navigating a recent diagnosis with more serious health issues.

Knowing they have had such a profound impact on their client’s lives is one of the main motivators with many of the carers that we work with. Not only are you helping the client, but you are also helping the family. A live-in carer takes the pressure off family members to try and assist and support in situations that they do not feel comfortable in, for example, if their loved one has Alzheimer’s or Parkinsons and requires more complex care than they can provide. Relationships can become strained, but with a live-in carer, they are able to maintain happy and healthy relationships with their loved ones.

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