What Is Live-In Care?

Updated on December 17, 2024

Live-in Care means having a fully trained carer live with you in your home.

It guarantees safety at home for people who can no longer live alone, either because they are elderly or have a condition that does not permit them to be alone.

If you or your loved one needs day-to-day support, live-in care is one of the best options, as it is safe, comfortable, and cost-effective. 

Live-in carers or companions live with their clients and look after their medical and domestic needs. They provide constant round-the-clock care, offering help in an instant.

Types of Live-In Care

1. Emergency Live-In Care

Emergency live-in care is required when the situation changes suddenly. It may be needed at the last minute after a last-minute discharge from the hospital following an accident or injury, provided the regular carer is not available.

Equally, you may encounter times when a regular carer cannot provide care. For health or personal reasons, a carer may not be available to care for your loved one. In times like this, you or your loved one may need an emergency carer.

2. Complex Live-In Care

People with complex conditions may require extra expertise and round-the-clock support. A live-in carer experienced in managing the symptoms of specific health conditions can offer a more focused type of care, tailored to an individual’s health needs.

Whether your loved one is living with a long-term injury or a chronic health condition, live-in carers work in conjunction with visiting nurses to support the management and handling of complex health needs. 

3. Respite Care

This type of live-in care offers regular carers and family members who care for their loved ones full-time the chance to relax, re-energize, and recover, should they need to. The caring profession can be tiring and exhausting and as a result, carers need breaks, holidays, and the like to rejuvenate.

4. Palliative Care

Palliative care is a type of live-in care designed to help people remain comfortable as the end of their life draws near.  A palliative carer can provide specialist support to an individual facing terminal illness, preserving their dignity and respecting their wishes.

For individuals wishing to spend their final days in the familiar environment of home, palliative live-in care is a suitable option. The specialist carers will communicate with healthcare professionals and family members to ensure that the best possible care and treatment is given.

5. Live-In Night Care

This type of care is available to those who only require care at night. This is because their families are caring for them during the day, and they need people at night. In this case, a dedicated carer can be available at night and will be there if their client needs help and take care of tasks such as turning, repositioning, toileting, or pain management.

6. Live-In Day Care

Live-in carers provide support for the elderly or people who need help with day-to-day life. They provide companionship for their clients, and peace of mind for their families who know their loved ones are safe and cared for.

What Is Included In Live-In Care?

  • 1. Personal Care: A live-in carer provides you with sensitive personal care so that you do not have to ask family members for help. This assistance may include bathing, toileting, being transported, and more.
  • 2. Household chores: When it comes to keeping your entire space tidy, your live-in carer takes care of that. They ensure that your home is always tidy, facilitating a healthy environment.
  • 3. Dietary needs: A client may have foods that their doctors have curated to sustain their diet, and the carer ensures this diet is adhered to. They also prepare favorite meals, snacks, and drinks all to aid the well-being of their clients.
  • 4. Companionship: For persons who live alone, live-in carers are there to keep you company. Either by watching your TV shows together, gisting and bonding, they are available to you for that.
  • 5. Transportation/ Moving About:. A live-in carer can accompany you out of your home whenever you like – whether it’s popping to the shops, visiting a friend, or going away for the weekend.
  • 6. Complex Care: For people with complex care needs, live-in carers receive additional nurse-led training that equips them to offer medical services. They provide bespoke support for the most complex conditions, including types of dementia and cancer.

Benefits of Live-In Care

  • 1. The quality of care provided in a residential home may not be quality, and also there may be a queue to get in. However, a live-in carer can start immediately, defying all negative responses surrounding a care home.
  • 2. A live-in carer’s time is specifically focused on your loved one and their needs. Even better, your loved one can remain in their own home, close to friends and family. Social activities do not necessarily change, this is because a carer can provide transport and accompany your loved one to appointments.
  • 3. A live-in carer is a consistent friendly face day-in-day-out, meaning that a strong relationship bond can form between them and your loved one, helping them accept themselves and feel included. 

How Can I Access A Live-In Carer?

To access a live-in carer, you must meet the eligibility criteria of My Aged Care. This entails meeting the criteria and registering with My Aged Care to complete an assessment. Once you have done all these, then, you need to be assessed by a member of the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or Regional Assessment Services (RAS).

The type of assessment you will receive is dependent on your care needs. An RAS assessment is for people requiring low levels of support, while an ACAT assessment is for individuals who need a higher level of home care support, or who are ready to move into a residential aged care facility.

These assessments are usually completed in person (sometimes via phone or video calls) and take between 1-3 hours depending on your situation.

How Much Does A Live-In Care Cost?

1. Short-term or basic support

If you are recovering from an illness for example, or if your carer is away on holidays – the Commonwealth Home Support Program provides a government subsidy so you can access a variety of services to keep things running.

However, to get the subsidy, you need to complete an assessment by the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) as they will help you work out which services you need and how much they cost. Fees are set by the government, and the subsidy means that the amount you pay is determined by your income (you will only pay what you can afford to).

2. Long-term subsidised support

If you need ongoing care to stay at home, apply for a  Home Care Package which will get you access to a wider range of services and more government help to pay for them. To access a Home Care Package you need to go through an assets assessment, and if you earn income above the pension, you will pay an income-tested fee towards the cost of your services.

To estimate the fees you may be asked to pay, you can make use of an online calculator.

Conclusion

The sole purpose of live-in care is to ensure comfortability and safety of the aged. It aims to keep the relatives of the aged person a lasting peace of mind that their loved one is well catered for. All carers undergo training and checkups to ensure they are in the right frame of mind to administer help and assistance to their clients.

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