live in care agencies

March 2024

Live in Care Agencies – How To Choose A Care Agency In March 2024

Even though care homes have been here for quite some time, providing care and support to our loved ones, they never feel quite like home. That’s why using live in care agencies has become a perfect alternative. In this article, we will guide you on:

  • what live in care is
  • how you choose between live in care companies
  • list of live in care agencies
  • how a live in agency works
  • what a live in carer does
  • how much live in care can cost 

Topics that you will find covered on this page

What is Live in Care?

Live in care is when a fully trained caregiver lives in your home. This means that there is always someone around, day or night, to ensure your needs or those of your loved one are met.

Elderly live in care is increasingly replacing care homes as they allow the elderly to receive the care and support they need in the comfort of their own home. For some, it offers the opportunity to continue living an independent life as much as possible.

Here is a short that explains what live in care is.

What is a live in care provider?

An organisation that specialises in offering live-in care services to people who need support and assistance in their own homes is known as a live-in care agency. These organisations have a pool of live-in carers who are qualified and trained who can be paired with clients depending on their individual requirements and preferences.

Live-in care firms are in charge of hiring, vetting, and educating carers to make sure they are equipped to provide specialised care.

They serve as middlemen, allowing the pairing of live-in carers with clients and offering continuing support and oversight to guarantee the contentment and well-being of both the carers and the people receiving care.

How to find a live in carer

Consider contacting reputable home care companies or carer placement services to find a live-in carer. Based on the requirements and preferences of the individuals in need of live-in care, these organisations can connect a pool of qualified specialists with people in need of support.

You can also ask friends, family members, or colleagues who have used live-in care services for advice.

Make sure the chosen carer has the credentials, expertise, and compassion needed to deliver the best care and assistance by conducting in-depth interviews, checking references, and selecting them after careful consideration.

Alternatively, below we provide a list of agencies who can help source a live in health care provider.

List of Live in Care agencies in the UK

Here is a list of care agencies in the UK

  • Elder – They are the leading elder care agency in the UK
  • Good Care Group
  • Hme Instead
  • Right at Home

Live in Care Companies – How do they work?

First, you can organise live in care in different ways, including privately, via a live in care company, or through an introductory, live in care service provider.

Live in care agencies and companies are better options since they can choose someone, from a wider pool of care workers, with similar interests to your loved one, which allows both parties to get along more quickly. They also have a team on call to support care workers and clients as well.

The amount of time a quality live in care/r works varies depending on the type of services you choose and your needs. Some work full time, while others work on a rota of teams of two. A good live in care provider will fully assess the needs of their clients and help the family choose the perfect caregiver.

It’s important for care workers to have their own space in your house, which may include their own bedroom, a TV, and internet access. This allows them to escape the inevitable stress of the job and have some time to themselves.

Who are the leading Live in Care providers in the UK?

You can find a list of live-in care agencies in the section above. Over the past five years we have seen a significant increase in the number of live in care providers in the UK.  This has been driven by:

  • the cost of care homes is increasing significantly – Live in care can be much cheaper
  • people wanting to stay in the comfort of their own home
  • people wanting more focused 1 on 1 care rather then just being one of many in a care home

How can I find live in care agencies near me?

There are a few ways you can search for live-in care agencies nearby. Start by searching online for “live-in care agencies” or “live-in care providers” in your area. This ought to provide you with a list of active organisations in your area.
 
Additionally, think about contacting local support groups, community centres, or healthcare professionals, as they could be able to provide suggestions for trustworthy live-in care providers in your area.
 
You can also inquire with friends or family members to see if they have any experience with live-in care and if they have any recommendations for reputable organisations or carers agencies.

List of Live in Care agencies in the UK

Elder.Org

Here is a video about Elder, who we think are the best live in care agency in the UK.

Are you looking for live in care? We can help you!

Choose award winning Live in Care from Elder

Dedicated care advisors and family support specialists
Get quality care in place in as little as 24 hours
Only pay for the care you need with no hidden costs
Choose your carer from 4000+ community of vetted professionals

Read some recent 5 star client testimonials, on Trustpilot, about Elder’s fantastic care support

Tasks your Elder live in carer can help you with

Help with houshold tasks such as vacuuming and laundry
Preparing daily meals to your taste and dietary requirements
Help with washing, toileting, and prompting medication
Daily companionship, and help getting out and about to see friends

Call now on 0333 567 1604 for a quote or to discuss your care requirements.

Or

Book a call back using the calendar below for your chosen time.

 

Good Care Group

Here is a video about the Good Care Group, a live in carers agency.

Home Instead

Here is a video about Home Instead.

Right at Home

Here is a video about Right at Home.

What Does a Full Time Live in Carer do?

Here is a short video that explains what a live in carer does.

There is a lot that live in carers can do for you or your loved one, including everyday tasks, and ongoing support, which allows you to continue living comfortably in your home. Offering round-the-clock support, a full time live in carer provides services that include:

  • Administering medication or regular prompts
  • Running errands
  • Companionship
  • Offering emotional support
  • Completing household chores
  • Laundry and ironing
  • Preparing meals
  • Support with bathing, dressing and toileting
  • Caring for a pet
  • Support getting out and about, and much more.

Standard live in carers are appropriate for individuals with low-level medical needs, however, those with moderate to mild-severe care needs, or require mobility support, or need personal care should look for 24/7 live in professional carers or specialist live in care.

Individuals with more complex medical conditions can ask their live in care providers for a full care team of nurse-led clinical carers, since they are specially trained to meet complex needs like giving insulin injections.

Generally, live in carers are a rock to their clients, enabling respite in home care, for them to live the way they want every day.

Who Might Live in Care Agencies Suit?

Live in care is suitable to different kinds of people for several reasons such as if they need help with short-term residential care, companionship, taking medication when other aids aren’t effective, caring for a family member or a pet, continuing some lifelong passions, housework, and mobility support.

This option is also ideal for individuals who may become confused by a new environment in residential care homes or find it difficult to adapt to change.

In addition, carer agencies can be helpful for people who’ve just undergone an operation or those who suffer from certain medical conditions where continuity, routine, and familiar environments can be reassuring and improve quality of life, for instance, dementia.

Why Choose Live in Care Services?

For several reasons, choosing live in care services would be ideal for you or your loved ones. Some main ones include:

  • Keeping the same daily routine can be very helpful as many people don’t want to feel like their independence is slowly fading away.
  • Live in carers become more like a friend to their clients, offering emotional support and companionship.
  • Avoiding change and staying in a home you love and are familiar with
  • Peace of mind: you live stress-free, knowing someone is always available to help your loved ones
  • Less pressure on relationships: being a caregiver can be emotionally draining, stressful, and time-consuming. That’s why you need a live-in carer to relieve you from being drawn into being a full-time caregiver. This takes the pressure off family members and friends, allowing for quality family time without feeling you must always cope with your loved one’s needs.
  • Dedicated care: when you hire live in care specialists, their sole responsibility is caring for your loved ones.
  • Specialised training: the best live in care agencies have live in carers who are specially trained to handle even complex needs, including serious medical conditions like dementia and stroke. Some live in care providers even offer live in nursing staff.

What Should You Consider When Choosing a Live in Care Provider?

Choosing a live in carer can be a bit challenging since the most dedicated carer or worker will be living in your house, and you need to be able to feel comfortable and safe with them. Here are a few key elements to consider, ensuring you get the best live in carer work services:

The type of care support you need

Determining what you want from your caregiver is the first step to getting the perfect live in care provider. Live in care can come in different forms, including home help, personal assistants, and carers. Carer companies can provide long-term, short-term, or even emergency care services. 

Experience

The intuitive aspects of care giving are simply invaluable. That’s why in this profession, there are certain things you can only learn through experience. For instance how to handle difficult topics or knowing when something is wrong. So, ensure your agency and the caregivers both have plenty of experience.

Flexibility

Care giving is not a one-size-fits-all methodology. Different clients have different needs at different times. And, clients need the assurance that these needs will be met anytime they need them. So, ensure your caregiver can fit in around your needs.

A friendly attitude

A simple smile goes a long way, especially in the caregiving industry. People you encounter in live in care companies should be personable, friendly, attentive, and understanding. They should make you feel comfortable discussing your needs, be interested in your thoughts, and most importantly, answer all your questions.

Costs & funding of carer agences

The cost of services from UK care companies greatly influences any decision about care giving. Thankfully, the cost of live in carers varies widely in the UK, fitting every budget.

So how much does a live in carer cost? Most services are met through hourly rates, ranging from £10 – £20 per hour. Full-time services start at around £700 per week.

However, determining the precise amount, you’ll pay for a live-in carer can be a bit challenging as it depends on several things like the number of people being cared for, your requirements, and where you are in the country. So, go for one within your budget.

Many people find 24-hour live in carer agency services quite costly, and with minimum or no financial support from the local authority, clients are left responsible for paying for these services. When it comes to funding live in care costs, there are a few options you can consider:

  • Personal property: When using your property to pay for care giving services, you can either use the deferred payment scheme; where the local authority gives you a loan against the value of your property, equity release; where you can use your lifetime mortgage to borrow against the value of your property, or rent out your property.
  • Using your savings
  • Using your income
  • Buy a ‘Care Annuity’, which is where you can swap a certain amount of cash with an insurance company and in return they pay you a guaranteed income for life.

Can I Use Equity Release to pay for my live in care?

The simple answer is, Yes, you can.

Here is a short video that explains how equity release works.

In fact equity release is one of the most popular ways elderly people use to pay for care.  You can use the calculator below to see how much money you could get.

You can read more about how equity release works here. 

You can read more about the different options for paying for care here.

Live in care agencies come with several benefits. Since they are flexible, it’s best to give it try and probably start with short-term service. As we’ve seen before, their top quality live in carers provide a dedicated team and personalised services, which mean they can work with you to fulfil your needs or those of your loved ones.

Typically, a care management team oversees the care provided to clients by live-in care agencies. This team collaborates closely with the carers to ensure that the client’s needs are met and that any concerns are promptly addressed.

Fully Managed Services

In addition, live-in care agencies offer a fully managed care service. The agency handles all aspects of care, such as finding a carer who is a perfect match, preparing nutritious meals, providing nursing care if necessary, and managing the care team.

It is important to note that live-in care agencies in England are fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), an independent health and social care regulator, to ensure that they provide high-quality care and adhere to the necessary standards. This regulatory oversight provides peace of mind to families seeking a reputable and trustworthy live-in care agency services.

In addition to providing personal care, live-in carers are responsible for domestic tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and preparing nutritious meals. They are trained to perform various tasks and can also provide clients with companionship and emotional support.

The training care assessment process for live-in carers is rigorous and thorough, ensuring that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high-quality care. Some live-in care agencies provide their carers with ongoing training and support to keep them abreast of the most recent developments in care.

Notably, live-in care is provided one-to-one, meaning clients receive individualised care tailored to their particular needs. This more specialist care is especially advantageous for those with complex medical conditions requiring specialised care, such as palliative care and dementia care.

A valuable service

Live-in care agencies provide a valuable service that enables individuals to remain in their own homes while receiving constant care and support from carers who have received extensive training. With the assistance of live-in care agencies, family members can rest assured that their loved ones are receiving high-quality care in the comfort of their own homes from a dedicated, professional carer.

Live-in care agencies are a regulated alternative to residential homes, especially for those who prefer to remain in the comfort of their own homes. The agencies provide teams of trained carers who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide support and assistance.

Live-in care agencies can provide a carer who shares the client and care provider’s interests, allowing for a stronger relationship between the carer and the client. The agencies can also provide nursing care if necessary and provide ongoing training and support to their carers to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high-quality care.

In addition to providing personal care, live-in carers are responsible for domestic duties such as cleaning, laundry, and meal preparation. They collaborate closely with the care management team to ensure that the client’s needs are met and that any concerns are promptly addressed.

When selecting a live-in care agency, it is crucial to consider the type of care support you require for complex conditions, the experience and adaptability of the agency and its carers, the helpfulness of the staff, and the available costs and funding options.

The Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission monitors live-in care agencies to ensure that they provide high-quality care and adhere to the necessary standards.

Live-in care agencies provide a flexible and individualised service that enables individuals to remain in their own homes while receiving constant care and assistance from fully trained carers.

They offer a viable alternative to residential care and are appropriate for various individuals with varying needs, including those with complex medical conditions.

With the assistance of live-in care agencies, family members can rest assured that their loved ones are receiving high-quality care in the comfort of their own homes from a dedicated, professional and fully trained carer throughout.

About the author and her expertise

This article was written by Rose Walters a published writer that has written on a range of care related topics.   Rose writes from a lot of personal experience and can bring this in to the writing alongside the specialist training and knowledge she has on these topics.

Have A Free Consultation With A Live In Care Specialist

You can contact a Live in Care specialist from ‘Elder’ in one of 3 ways:

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between live in care and domiciliary care?

Live-in care entails a fully trained carer residing in your home and providing 24-hour care and assistance. This indicates that the carer is available 24/7 to assist with any needs. Domiciliary care, on the other hand, involves a carer visiting your home for a predetermined amount of time each day to assist with daily tasks such as dressing, preparing meals, and taking medications. Individuals requiring more intensive care or at risk of falling or experiencing medical emergencies at night often prefer live-in care. As the same carer is present for an extended period of time, it also provides a greater sense of companionship and continuity of care.

Are live in care agencies regulated?

In the United Kingdom, live-in care agencies are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It is the responsibility of the CQC, an independent regulator of health and social care services, to ensure that care providers meet the required standards of care. The CQC regularly inspects live-in care agencies to evaluate the quality of care provided. Additionally, they review client and family feedback to identify areas for enhancement. By selecting a CQC-accredited live-in care agency, you can rest assured that you or your loved one will receive high-quality care.

How are live in carers matched with clients?

Typically, live-in care agencies have a team of care managers who assess clients’ needs and pair them with a carer who shares their interests and personality. This procedure comprehensively evaluates the client’s care requirements, medical conditions, and preferences. The care managers then select a carer from their pool of fully trained and devoted carers who, in their opinion, is the best match for the client. They consider the caregiver’s experience, training, personality, and availability.

Can live in carers provide nursing care?

Some live-in care agencies provide specially trained, nurse-led clinical carers to provide nursing care to individuals with complex medical needs. These carers have additional training and experience in medication administration, medical equipment management, and handling medical emergencies. However, standard live-in carers are generally suitable for individuals with minimal medical needs, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. In addition, they can provide companionship, emotional support, and help with household chores and errands.

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Call : 0333 567 1606

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