Articles

Going from hourly care to Live In Care

05/08/2016

Live in care will give the carer a very real opportunity to forge a special and unique bond with the person you take care of. Its an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. It takes a special kind of person to become a live in carer. Whether you care for a disabled person or someone who is at the end of their life, you may rest assured that you are going to make a difference in their lives. While daily careers and live in carers basically do the same things, the live in carer will reside at a property and thus have involvement with the person they are caring for.

Live in care is unique in that it allows people to stay in their own homes instead of going into a residential care home. For the carer there are many advantages to this type of work. The carer does not need to pay for their own accommodation or rent and expenses such as electricity and gas. The carer does not have this area of stress in their lives and so can devote full attention to her client. Live in carers do not have a daily commute either, which in itself is stressful and time consuming. Because of the amount of time the carer will spend with her client, they will develop a unique relationship with each other and the client's family. Added to that, due to the level of commitment, the carer can expect a higher salary than an hourly worker.

The live in carer must be devoted to her job as it involves taking care of a person for seven days a week. Often she will need to work long hours and be tired herself but the needs of the client will come first. A great part of the job will involve taking care of the normal household routine such as cooking and laundry. Companionship plays a large part. It helps if the carer is not only a good cook, but also a good listener! Driving is always an advantage as sometimes there will be trips to the doctor or hospital, and shopping might also be part of the routine The carer will more than likely need to administer medical care and assist with washing dressing and sometimes feeding. 

After a period of time with the client, the live in carer will be ready for a break. The job is very demanding and for the carer to function well, she must also be rested. It is therefore essential that the carer know when she is reaching her own breaking point. Most agencies will have discussed this with the carer before placing her with a client. It is important to keep this in mind with the severity of a situation that the carer might not be able to handle.

Further education and qualifications might be beneficial and the carer should discuss these options with her agency.