Dulcie’s Story | Wiltshire

Elder Guide

What kind of care does your loved one need?

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Care is something that many people don’t think about until it becomes a necessity. It may feel alien, or even worrying as a concept – little wonder when the traditional perception is a grey existence in a care home, that drains a person of their sense of self. As a result, when you first realise that your parent or relative is finding everyday activities harder than they used to, or perhaps a medical condition means that they need to cede some responsibilities to someone else, there can be a natural concern as to how best to help. Luckily, there are many more types of care available today, which means that care doesn’t need to be emotionally or financially distressing as you may initially believe. Assessing your situation and researching the options in order to make an informed decision can be stressful - so we’ve created this guide to make the process easier and provide you with all the information you need to know.

One of the most common questions we come across during the course of speaking with hundreds of people in your situation every month, is “How much care do I need?” In this guide, we discuss the two main options: hourly care and live-in care – and explore the best way to help you assess your loved one’s requirements.

Considering care?

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Although your loved one may still lead an active life, enjoying the comfort and familiarity of their home, unexpected instances or circumstances like a fall, medical diagnosis, or just the natural frailty that comes with growing older, means that they might not be able to do everything themselves anymore.

It’s important to realise that you don’t have to take on the responsibility of caring for your loved one on your own.

Arranging appropriate professional care means that you, your loved one, and your family can feel secure and supported. Perhaps all that is needed is someone to pop round and make sure your loved one is ok, in which case, hourly care is likely to be the most appropriate option.

However, if they have more extensive needs, the right kind of care will be crucial in providing you with the peace of mind that they are safe and comfortable at all times, living in the familiarity of their own home and local community. Professional live-in carers are experienced in looking after people with a wide variety of needs, and many are also trained to deal with the requirements of medical conditions such as dementia. A carer will ensure that all day-to-day functions are taken care of for your loved one, helping with everything from domestic responsibilities to toileting, getting them in and out of bed, reminding them to take medication and ensuring safety around the house. They will also offer 24/7 assistance, including a comforting presence at night – providing you with peace of mind that your loved one is being fully looked after at all hours.

How can care help?

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The presence of a friendly face is a powerful and positive addition to an older person’s world. Regular contact is essential for a happy, healthy life. Yet loneliness is one of the biggest challenges for a growing ageing demographic in this country.

Age UK estimates there are 11.6m people over 65 in the UK, a number that is expected to rise to 16m by 2030.

By offering dedicated help 24/7, a live-in carer becomes more than practical support. They also become a companion, even a friend, offering conversation, contact and a continuity that is invaluable to your loved one.

“ The startling facts are at the moment we’ve got just over 1.2m older people in the UK who feel lonely most or all of the time. That’s what we call chronic loneliness. There are a lot of people out there who just aren’t speaking to people for weeks on end.”

Laura Alcock Ferguson Executive Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness

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To provide basic levels of care – for example, help with light housework – an hourly carer may be all that is needed. Hourly care has less continuity than live-in care, with different carers visiting each day, which can be unsettling for some people. As the parameters of this kind of care are fixed and timed, it is not adequate for those with greater care requirements. Those with more extensive care needs or those who are living with a condition such as dementia, generally should have someone around at all times to ensure their safety.

If your loved one is frail and at risk of falling, or wandering and getting lost, for example, then putting the appropriate care in place before anything happens is a better approach than waiting for the worst to happen before addressing the situation.

For someone with greater support needs, live-in care is the best long-term option, and a positive alternative to dreaded traditional avenues such as care homes.

In a live-in care arrangement, your loved one will be matched with a carer who not only meets their practical and medical needs, but who also shares similar interests and outlooks.

Indeed, many live-in carers go on to become genuine friends with the person they are working with, and are often taken into the family circle.

How much care is needed?

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“ Since she came to live with us she has quickly become part of the family. She takes a lot of time with my Mother – who is living with dementia – and is there for her all the time. She keeps her company and discusses things, which keeps her memory going and is generally good for her wellbeing.”

Colin, Elder client (Speaking about Dulcie, his Mother, and Sarah, her carer)

A live-in carer provides you with the security and knowledge that you are doing the very best for your loved one for the long-term, and that someone is around 24/7 to look out for both their mental and physical wellbeing. Live-in care also provides valuable continuity; your loved one will have one or two dedicated carers, and the flexibility to adapt the care plan to suit their changing requirements over time.

Financially, too, live-in care makes sense, when you consider that it can be up to a third cheaper than funding a care home place.

Savings can be even greater if a carer is supporting a couple in their own home – another benefit over care homes is that it allows people to stay together as they grow older, even if one has extensive medical needs.

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Hourly vs live-in care at a glance

… take some pressure off you in terms of daily domestic tasks such as light housework and cleaning. … be cost-effective if only a small amount of help is required, as carers are paid by the hour. … be suitable for people who are still physically and mentally capable of taking care of themselves most of the time.

… give you the peace of mind of knowing that your loved one is being looked after and has companionship whenever they require it, 24/7. … provide a comprehensive way of covering care for your loved one if they require more extensive help or have long-term health needs. Care is provided by a carer who lives in their home with them. …allow them to retain independence and live in their own home, for as long as they need. …prove cost-effective compared to a care home, especially if they have complex care needs and you would like for someone to provide 24/7 care. It can be even more financially astute for couples who need at-home care. …be a friend. As the carer lives at home with your loved one, usually on a two-week on, two-week off rotation, they will get to know them well, and can build trust and friendship, as well as benefit from round-the-clock assistance. …fit care around their lifestyle, needs and wants, working with you and your loved one to keep their care plan constantly updated.

An hourly carer can: An live-in carer can:

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Things to consider

• Not suitable for those with more complex care needs.

• Visits are timed, so there is little flexibility in the schedule.

• They may see a number of different people from week-to-week with no continuity of carer.

• No ability to have overnight care.

• Not able to provide adequate care for those living with dementia.

• May not be the most cost-effective option if your relative only needs occasional or light domiciliary help.

• The carer lives with your loved one in their home, so will need their own room.

• Live-in carers do not provide medical or nursing assistance. They do however help with reminding the care recipient to take medication and with managing doctor’s appointments.

Hourly carer Live-in carer

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There are two main ways to pay for care – the first is Local Authority Funding. Here, you may be entitled to some financial help if you can demonstrate there is a requirement for care. The first step is to arrange a care assessment by contacting your local social services. Local Authority Funding is also subject to a means test, and the level of support you are due depends on the value of your income and assets. If your total assets are worth less than £23,250, you are entitled to support from your local authority. Private funding options include savings, a lifetime mortgage on a property or a care annuity insurance policy, but it is worth taking advice on which may be the most suitable. For more information and a chat with an expert in live-in care funding, contact Elder’s care support team on 0333 241 3141.

The majority of older people would rather remain in their own home, facilitated by a live-in carer, to maintain their own schedule and independence. Being in a familiar place surrounded by their own belongings, friends, pets and community, has been shown to be highly beneficial in terms of ensuring people’s wellbeing.

Frequently Asked Questions…How can I fund care?

Isn’t it just easier to sell their home and use the money to cover the cost of a care home?

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Live-in care is surprisingly competitive when compared to more traditional options, and can be up to a third less expensive than funding a care home place. If you add in another person to the equation – such as providing live-in care for a couple – it becomes the more economic option by far.

Isn’t live-in care expensive?

In selling your loved one’s home you liquidate all their capital, and unless they move in with you, these finite funds will pay for a care option that is neither as cost-effective as live-in care, nor as beneficial. In addition, as the elderly relative’s home often acts as a regular gathering place for family members, many people regret the irreversible decision to sell their loved one’s home. The options mentioned previously give a more flexible solution to funding that allows for live-in care in a positive and familiar environment.

Live-in care is an ideal option for those living with dementia as it provides the round-the-clock assistance and support that the condition requires, especially in the later stages.

Can a carer cope with conditions such as dementia?

Care providers such as Elder have carers specially trained in dementia care, and are able to deal confidently with many aspects of the condition.

Another big benefit of live-in care for those living with dementia is that it enables people to stay in their own homes in familiar, comforting surroundings, rather than uprooting them to a strange and potentially distressing environment such as a care home.

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Live-in care means that a carer will move into your loved-one’s home, and they will need their own room to live in and have some privacy too. For many people, the thought of a ‘stranger’ moving into their home can take some getting used to. However, Elder carefully matches carers with care recipients so they will usually find that friendship is possible. Indeed, many of our clients say that their carer ends up feeling like part of the family.

Will having a carer living with my loved one feel intrusive? The care plan will be worked out with Elder, you and your

relative in order to ensure all needs and wants are taken into account. Your care plan is constantly reviewed and can be altered at any time to adjust to new circumstances or requirements.

Elder is proud of its matching service, that sees the majority of our clients and carers successfully placed together according to their compatibility. In the very rare circumstance that your loved one does not get on with their carer, a new one will be found to take their place as a matter of priority.

How flexible is the care plan?

What happens if my relative doesn’t like their carer?

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Unlike most care homes, pet care can be included as a part of your relative’s care plan. This service allows your loved one to stay with their cherished animal friends that provide a valuable contribution to their general mental wellness.

You can contact Elder at any time to ask about your relative and check on their wellbeing. Elder’s dedicated family support team will be happy to discuss any concerns or answer any questions that you may have.

Of course – and if this is an important factor for you or your loved one, then Elder will ensure that the carer has a driving licence to help them to maintain their social life, and even suggest new and interesting places to go together.

Can live-in care help me with my pets?

Will I get regular updates as to how my relative is doing?

Can a carer take my loved one out to social events and groups?

The valuable role Elder’s carers play in providing stimulating company to their care recipients is one of the reasons that live-in care is so holistically beneficial.

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Live-in care is arranged around the needs and wants of the family and care recipient, so your input and preferences are paramount. The big benefit to live-in care over all other kinds of care is its flexibility. It allows people to continue to decide for themselves when and what they eat, when they sleep and how they spend their day. The carer is there to support their wishes as well as helping with the practical concerns of day-to-day living and keeping them safe.

You can arrange live-in care for as long as your relative needs it - and for some, that may just be for a period following a situation such as a hospital visit, where extra support may be required. However, if your loved one needs live-in care on a daily ongoing basis then there are no time limits and it can be a permanent arrangement.

A care home offers a purpose-built environment that has a social community of peers on hand, and in that respect it can appeal to some people as a ‘comprehensive care option’.

However, with a greater amount of people to look after, the ratio of carers at a care home is not as favourable as with live-in care, where a dedicated carer looks after and lives with your loved-one.

How much independence will my relative have with a live-in care arrangement?

Is live-in care a permanent option? Wouldn’t a care home offer a more comprehensive option?

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Elder is the leading live-in care provider in the UK, and is dedicated to providing the highest quality carers, matched carefully to those who need them. For more information on any aspect of live-in care contact Elder’s expert team on 0333 241 3141 to find out how we can help you and your loved-one find the perfect care solution.

Do you need a carer?

With live-in care there is a familiar existing community of friends and neighbours that your loved one will be able to remain a part of. Socialising can be supported by the live-in carer, who can help them see friends and engage in groups and activities of their choosing. The added benefit of live-in care is the amount of freedom that your relative will have. Care is organised around their life, allowing them the continued choice of how to spend their day, what to eat, when to sleep and so forth – something that is not available in a care home.

The flexible schedule enabled by live-in care also means that family and friends can visit whenever they choose, not just during fixed visiting hours.

We’re here to help

0333 241 3141hello@elder.org

Give us a call or drop us an email, and one of our care advisors will get in touch.