If you are looking at getting a live-in carer for you or your loved one, then you will need to ensure that you provide a few essentials.
This will help them to settle in, feel more comfortable and ensure they can focus on providing the best possible care right from the start. You shouldn’t need to make any major changes to your home or spend large amounts of money to do this, but preparing a few simple things, will ensure your live-in carer settles in quickly and seamlessly.
Carer Essentials
Private Space
A live-in carer will need a room of their own so they can relax and unwind. Ideally this would be a spare bedroom, but if you do not have one, a separate living space with a bed and storage for their belongings, would work. The important thing is that they have a dedicated space for recharging, which is vital to help them be at their best when caring for you or your loved one.
Bathroom Access
Your live-in carer will need access to a bathroom and a place to store their toiletries. They do not need a bathroom of their own but if they are sharing then the bathroom will need to be functional with a working shower or bath.
Storage facilities
Your live-in carer will have personal belongings so it’s important to provide storage for these items. A wardrobe or chest of drawers in the bedroom, a place for their toiletries in the bathroom and if their food is separate from you or your loved one, a space in the cupboards and fridge for it to be stored. You do not need to buy new furniture, repurpose furniture that you have or if you don’t have anything you can pick up some great second hand furniture.
Adequate Supplies and Equipment
In order to do their job as a carer, you will need to ensure there is a good supply of the essential items and any relevant equipment is in place. This includes:
Personal care items such as toilet paper and toiletries such as toothpaste, soap and shampoo.
Laundry & cleaning supplies such as laundry detergent, washing up liquid, disinfectant and any other relevant cleaning products. You will also need to ensure equipment such as brooms and mops are available.
Medication or medical equipment
Mobility aids or equipment
Kitchen equipment & food
Your live-in carer will more often than not be involved in you or your loved ones meal preperation. To support this, it is important to ensure they have all the cooking equipment they will need and a well-stocked pantry. Live-in care does not include the cost of food. If the carer is cooking and sharing meals for ease, then an arrangement will be set up for payment of the food.
WIFI
These days having WIFI for your live-in carer is essential. Even if you don’t use it yourself, providing WIFI allows your carer to easily communicate with the outside world and not feel isolated from family and friends. Many care companies, including ourselves, also use WIFI to file reports relating to yours or your loved ones care.
Information
To ensure continuity of care and appropriate assistance, it is vital to provide the live-in carer, or the company they work for, with detailed information about yourself or your loved one. If you are using a care company this information is usually gathered during discussions with a Manager. The information needed includes information about medical history, diet, routines, and any other specific care instructions. Having this information will help the carer deliver personalised care, tailored to the client’s needs and wants.
Breaks
While your live-in carer is there to support you or your loved one 24 hours a day, they will need breaks. Depending on the level of care required, you may need assistance from family and friends at this time, or your care company may provide break cover. They are also entitled to holidays, so provisions will need to also be made for this. Again, if you use someone like New Age Care, we can organise this.
Nationwide Live-In Care with New Age Care
New Age Care provide live-in care nationwide. Our management team have over 70 years combined experience in the care industry. We tailor our services to our clients’ wishes and needs allowing our customers to live independently in the comfort of their own home. We pride ourselves on forming meaningful and respectful relationships with people and are flexible and adaptable when a customer’s situation and circumstances change.
We believe that great care begins with great people, which is why we invest so much time recruiting the right carers, paying them above the industry average, providing ongoing training and continually supporting them in their job.
To find out how we can help with your care needs, give us a call on 0808 808 5000 or visit our contact page here.