A guide to what to expect in your first weeks of live-in care
About this guide
This guide to what to expect in your first weeks of live-in care will help answer your questions around the subject. If you’re considering live-in care then you will likely already know some of what it involves, but hopefully this guide will fill in any gaps.
Helping Hands are the nation’s favourite for home care, because we’ve been delivering exceptional care in our customers’ own homes since 1989. Our carers take the time to get to know their customers, discovering how they like to spend their days and supporting them to remain as independent as possible.
Before your carer arrives
When you first contact us, you’ll have all your questions around live-in care answered by one of our knowledgeable customer care advisors. They’ll be able to tell you all about live-in care and how it fits into your existing routine and home.
The first day
You’ll know in advance all the details of your carer’s arrival. Your care plan will be in place, and your local care manager will have visited you at home for a care assessment. If we are putting care in place on an emergency basis some details may change, but your wellbeing will always remain the priority.
Your first week, settling in
We don’t dispute that it’ll take a little time for you and your live-in carer to adjust, but you’ll quickly wonder how you managed without them. Your carer will work tirelessly to make sure your routine continues as it always has, and a plan will be in place to cover their essential breaks and time off.
Building routine and trust
As you get used to having a live-in carer in your home, you’ll realise that maintaining your routine is your carer’s priority. They’ll undertake every aspect of your physical and emotional support, such as your housework, medication, personal care, and meal preparation. They’ll also be by your side when you feel like a chat and a cuppa.
Staying in touch
Because we’ve got 155 branches across England and Wales, we’ll have one near you, with a dedicated team of managers, support staff, and carers. They’ll make sure that your care package proceeds as you wish it to, and will act quickly to any issues that need resolving.
Reviewing and adjusting your care
Your local branch team will monitor your care package and stay in touch with you or your advocates, as well as your live-in carer. Throughout your journey with us you remain the priority, and we’ll regularly review your package of care to make sure it still always meets your needs.
What to do if the match is not quite right
While we work hard to find you the best live-in carer we can, we understand that personalities aren’t always compatible. If you or your carer is finding the working relationship difficult, we will do all we can to resolve things to both of your satisfaction as quickly as possible.
How Helping Hands supports you from day one
Helping Hands have been providing exceptional live-in care in our customers’ homes for 37 years. By offering live-in care it means our customers can continue living in the place that means the world to them, even when they have complex conditions. You may be managing a disability, living with dementia, or just prefer having someone in your home around the clock, perhaps after the passing of a partner. Having care at home leaves you in control of your life. You choose your carer, influence your care package, and receive personalised, one-to-one support that you just can’t get in a care home. Whatever the reason you choose live-in care, we’ll be there for as long as you need us.
Helping Hands have so far been excellent. We needed emergency help and received it in the form of a live-in carer. There was very swift access to telephone information and there was sensitive support from the manager.
Julia, Customer
First weeks of live-in care FAQs
Your live-in carer will live in your home with you and be available whenever you’re awake. If you require waking nights care as well though we will devise a package of care with additional carers or your family members, so that your carer gets adequate rest.
Yes, your live-in carer will require their own room. This is because when they are taking a break or getting essential sleep they need to know they have the privacy they require and will be able to rest.
As in any job, time away from work responsibilities benefits an individual’s mental and physical wellbeing. Live-in carers are usually entitled to at least two hours a day away from caring duties, whether they spend that in their room or out of the house. This can be negotiated with the customer and their loved ones to work out a mutually beneficial schedule, as some carers prefer to ‘bank’ their time off and then take it all at once, subject to necessary cover.
Your live-in carer can provide support with every aspect of your daily routine. This includes tasks such as housework, laundry, medication administration, mobility support, meal preparation, personal care, and companionship. They can also support you outside of your home.
Yes, of course. Your live-in carer will accompany you to medical appointments and enjoyable activities, whether you want to go shopping or for coffee and cake. They can help you to keep in touch with family and friends and get to the places you need to go. They can also drive your car, with your permission and the necessary insurance policies in place. Chat to your local care manager or our customer care team to discover just how your live-in carer could change your life.