Making the correct decision for your elderly relatives regarding live-in care
Collaborative Post
It is certainly not an easy decision to make, but at some point the realisation dawns on you that your parents (or relative/friend) are getting old and are reaching the stage in their lives where they need constant assistance, particularly if they live alone which can be very isolating.
If you are in the situation where you are not able to adapt your working schedule and work from home (something many people have had to become accustomed to in 2020) while caring for your elderly relative at the same time then live-in care could be a suitable solution for you.
What is live-in care?
With 24-hour live-in care you would be able to have access to care support to provide the best support for your elderly relatives. It’s particularly difficult when one of your parents is suffering from dementia as this requires 24 hours a day attention, depending on what stage they are at too. When they gradually start to decline and become more dependent on you for everyday tasks, you really do need all the support you can get as it is not an easy task. Live-in care enables your relative to have a live-in carer with them at home so they are never alone.
You can utilise the live-in care cost calculator to get an idea of how much it would cost and whether this is suitable for your needs.
How does it differ from residential care?
The difference between live-in care and a residential home is that it is generally more affordable if you compare the two. According to Which? magazine the average cost of a residential home between 2018-2019 was between £539-£769 weekly.
This is also dependent on where you live in the UK as the prices seem to vary quite significantly. In the North East for example it was 42% less compared to the South East of England. It can also be more comforting to remain in a familiar surrounding as opposed to moving into a residential care home which could be difficult for your relative to adjust to.
Specialist live-in care requirements
Caring and patience is certainly key when dealing with dementia. With live-in care you would be able to have access to a care worker who would be able to move into their home in order to help out with necessary duties.
This is ideal if they need specialised care with other illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s Disease and cerebral palsy. The professional carer would be chosen specifically for the care you require for your relative and would be experienced in this field.
Ask for assistance
It is also vital that you remember to look after yourself as well. There are always organisations and voluntary services that you can reach out to when you need to chat to someone, particularly if you are trying to juggle your home and work life with looking after your elderly relative too.
