A guide to preparing for a Live in Carer
Using the services of a Live-in carer can make a huge difference to you and your family’s quality of life. Not only does it enable your family member to remain living at home, but it also provides reassurance and relief for family members knowing their loved one is being cared for and is safe in their home – where they want to be!
That said, there are lots of things to consider and preparations to think about before engaging a Live -in carer. We hope this step-by-step guide will help.
Getting prepared – It is important that whoever is coming into your family members home makes your loved one feel comfortable. It is always a good idea to have the conversation well in advance (if possible) with your family member to explain how the practicalities of a Live-in carer moving in will work, after all, you want them to be happy about it. You may want to have more regular conversations about this especially if they have any signs of confusion or dementia.
Keeping safe - All AtHome Live-in carers can only sign up to the portal having completed all the relevant checks including but not limited to: DBS and reference checks. That said, we always recommend that you check their id and DBS documents upon arrival. We highly recommend that any items of value are stored in a secure place to safeguard against any concerns if items or money go missing.
Insurance - All AtHome Live-in carers are required to have their own insurance, and this is checked as part of their registration to the AtHome portal. However, we do recommend that you also notify your own insurers to ensure you would be covered in any event. If you require the carer to drive your family members car they will need to be included on the policy
Money and day to day expenses – Most Live-in carers are responsible for looking after day-to-day expenses so it’s a good idea to confirm how you would like this managed. Always request that the carer keeps any receipts and makes a note of any expenditure in a designated notebook. A good idea is to provide petty cash or alternatively, you may prefer to set up a separate bank account with a debit card that can be used by the carer to pay for anything needed. Just remember, it is important that both parties are clear what the arrangements are for this.
Useful Contacts – We recommend preparing a contact list of yourself and family members for the carer just in case there is an emergency. Keep this in a visible and accessible place in the home, such as near the telephone or on a notice board in the kitchen. Other useful numbers can be listed too such as the local GP. Chemist, Local Authority, District Nurse etc.
Creating a space for the carer – All AtHome Live-in carers will need their own space within your family member’s home. They will need their own bedroom with clean linen and towels provided. Providing Live-in care can be quite intensive at times, it is therefore paramount that the carer can take some time out away in their own space during breaks. Some families often move their family member down to the ground floor of their house (space permitting) allowing the carer to live upstairs. This is often a sensible move to keep your family member safe especially if they struggle with their mobility. A television, storage facilities and a chair or small sofa would also be beneficial, just remember, a carer that feels welcome on their first day and provided with comfortable accommodation is more likely to stay! Whilst their own bathroom would be a preference, shared facilities are more than adequate.
Wi-Fi – The majority of carers will require access to Wi-Fi as it is used for so many things these days. It is also an opportunity for you to remain connected to the carer and keep in touch as and when necessary. Please consider getting Wi-Fi set up if the home does not currently have this.
Cooking & mealtimes – Live-in carers do not need separate cooking facilities and you should encourage the carer to eat with your family member as company at mealtimes is important and social. Most carers will cook good wholesome meals so ensure that you let them know what your family member enjoys! Some carers will have specific dietary requirements and will therefore provide their own food, otherwise do consider the additional cost of food that will be required.
We hope that the above information is helpful when engaging a carer via an introductory agency.
The quickest way to get started is to register for free on the AtHome portal to find a carer. This can be done in just a couple of clicks. You can also check out our FAQ’s where you can find out answers to lots of commonly asked questions about arranging care. You can also email us on hello@athomecaregroup.co.uk or call us on 01275 402240 if you have a specific query. We will aim to respond to all messages within 24 hours.