A guide to live-in care for cancer
About this guide
Being diagnosed with cancer can be one of the hardest things you’ve ever had to deal with and needing care can make you feel you’re losing your independence. Being able to continue living in the home you love makes such a difference to your daily wellbeing and choosing live-in care from Helping Hands will ensure your routine continues.
This guide has been put together to help you and your loved ones understand your options for live-in care at home from Helping Hands when you’re living with cancer. We offer cancer care that is fully designed around you and the way you wish to live, without you needing to leave the place you love and relocate to a residential care home.
Living with cancer at home
Continuing to live in familiar and comforting surroundings isn’t just good for your wellbeing, it also means that loved ones can come and go as you please and continue to spend quality time with you.
A day in the life with a live-in carer
There is no average day with live-in care. Your dedicated carer will support you in any way you need them. They’ll help you get ready for the day, prepare meals, and accompany you to essential medical appointments or enjoyable activities. They’ll also undertake housework and ensure your home remains exactly as you like it.
Support through treatment and recovery
Having someone living in your home with you, dedicated to supporting your wellbeing, means you’ll never be at risk of loneliness or isolation, even if your family live far away. They’ll be there during good days and bad, making sure that you focus on your treatment journey, eat well, and try to keep positive whenever possible.
Signs it may be time for full-time support
If you’re struggling to carry out household tasks, unable to summon the enthusiasm to eat well, finding yourself becoming despondent or you want some everyday companionship, live-in care could fill the gaps in your wellbeing. We can support you through the day, overnight, around the clock, or however you need us.
Planning and preparing for live-in care
Live-in care is an adjustment; we’re not going to pretend it isn’t. However, by ensuring your live-in carer has their own room, and has opportunities to take breaks and boost their energy, you’ll soon get used to living with each other and they’ll quickly become a treasured friend.
Paying for live-in care for cancer
Paying for live-in care when you’re living with cancer will depend on several circumstances, such as whether you’re on a palliative pathway, or have savings. Many people do pay for their live-in care privately, using pensions, or investments set up for that purpose. Others receive local authority or NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding (CHC).
Paying for cancer care shouldn’t cause you additional stress. At Helping Hands, we keep our costs easy to follow and will provide a no-obligation assessment of your needs including a fully personalised quote before you choose to have live-in care from us.
Working with your carer, medical team and family
You may already have care in place, but now you’re considering live-in support. Perhaps your family have been providing additional help, but you now think it’s time for some professional care. Whatever your circumstances we will build you a bespoke package of support that works with your other caregivers and supporters.
Planning for changing and end-of-life needs
You’ll receive a fully rounded plan of care that incorporates every aspect of your daily routine, supported by our amazing carers. Because we also have our own team of nurses that manage our complex care packages, your carers will receive all of the training they need, responsive to your changing needs.
Looking after yourself as a family carer
When you care for a family member you will have other aspects of your life to balance, whether that’s work, your own family, or a combination of it all. Taking care of your own mental and physical wellbeing is vital when you expend your energy caring for someone else, so take time out regularly for a change of scene.
How Helping Hands supports people living with cancer
Helping Hands have been providing an exceptional standard of support for all of our customers since we were established in 1989. If you are looking for live-in care then we deliver the UK’s premium home care service, across the whole of England and Wales. All of our home care services are fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and the Care Inspectorate Wales, and your live-in carer can be seamlessly supported by our visiting service when they need to take a break or have a holiday. We’ve supported many people through their cancer journey, and our compassionate carers will be on hand to make sure all of your routine runs to your personal preferences. Our carers will work seamlessly with your community nursing team and family members to ensure your care is always delivered exactly to your requirements.
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
Cancer live-in care FAQs
Yes, live-in care is especially suitable for someone living with cancer. This is because you will have someone with you at all times of the day or night to support you on your treatment journey, and to offer assistance with day-to-day tasks.
Live-in cancer care is often favourably compared with the costs of a care home, but it’s the other things that can’t be measured in monetary terms that are particularly important. These include being able to continue seeing loved ones, precious pets, and friends whenever you wish.
Live-in care at home with Helping Hands begins at £1,675 per week for an individual, or £2,125 for a couple. We also offer live-in care on a respite basis which begins at £345 per day.
We’ll arrange care quickly for you, especially when it’s an emergency, even within 24 hours in some circumstances. It’s easy to get in touch with us, either on the phone, via our website, or in your local branch. You can also request a callback for a time more convenient if you’d like to.
We offer a comprehensive service of palliative and end-of-life support at Helping Hands. We’re highly experienced in caring for people on a palliative care journey and as the end of their life approaches.
As well as our comprehensive live-in care service we offer visiting care that can help with cover when your live-in carer needs to take a break. Our respite care service is also available when you require only short-term support.