10/21/2020
It has been estimated that 21% of older people in England require the services of a professional live-in carer. The UK has an aging population, with almost 12 million people over the age of 65. Despite the increasing demand for live-in carers in recent times, there is no hiding the strenuous nature of the job.
Live-in carers not only invest in their jobs physically but also mentally. What makes this particular work so difficult, and the challenges faced by live-in caregivers are discussed in the proceeding article.
Live-in care is for patients who require assistance in their day-to-day activities, such as; washing, cooking, dressing, moving around, or any other kind of housework. The majority of people who require such care are the elderly, with a small percentage of adults with physical disabilities or mental health issues.
Therefore, the job of live-in carers varies from the person needing the care. The reason why live-in care is encouraged for such individuals is to provide them with a sense of independence and make them feel less lonely. This especially applies to those with degenerative diseases such as dementia, or Alzheimer’s, where a familiar environment helps these patients be at ease, increasing their quality of life.
Live-in carers are expected to be caring, non-judgemental, responsible, kind, professional, tolerant, and have excellent communication skills - which itself can be challenging and quite overwhelming on its own.
Following is a list of problems that many professional live-in carers face in their line of duty.
Social isolation- live-in carers are required to stay round the clock and take care of their patients, which disconnects them from the outside world. This lack of social interaction makes them more drained and exhausted.
Mentally challenging- Live-in carers develop a sense of understanding and friendship with their patients, making them weary and depressed if that individual does not do well, gets into any severe complication, or passes away.
Physical strain- Many caregivers complain of backache, as they lift their patients to help them with their day to day tasks. They also have to do all the housework, cook, and clean as per the patient’s needs, which can get them very exhausted by the end of the day.
Extremely vigilant at all times- The duty of a live-in carer is a full-time job as they have to monitor the condition of their patients with precision. Timely medications with proper dosage, shouldn’t be taken lightly. Therefore, they cannot slack off, as it can result in grave consequences.
Unsupervised- Many of the live-in carers have to change catheters, and inject medications that they are not completely trained for. All of these tasks are done by them without any supervision, which holds a high chance of errors and mistakes. This can make them accountable for any consequence that can be a result of such a practice.
The job of a live-in carer is intense as they try to instill a deep sense of homeliness in patients who are lonely. Their communication not only helps these patients to feel more independent, but it also helps reduce symptoms of any of their chronic illnesses.
Despite the number of challenges being faced by live-in carers, there are many who are happy with what they do. Their profession promises them a good salary and proper accommodation, as per the laws of the UK.
Most of these care-givers find solace in helping and staying close to the elderly. They not just find it very rewarding but also find a sense of purpose in their line of work, making them want to continue it for the rest of their lives.
References
Hussain R, Wark S, Ryan P. Caregiving, employment, and social isolation: challenges for rural carers in Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018 Oct;15(10):2267.
Day in the life of a live-in carer. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.thegoodcaregroup.com/news/day-in-life-live-in-carer/
Brindle, D. (2001, March 14). The problems facing home carers. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/mar/14/socialcare.publicsectorcareers
Live-in care for older people explained - Which? (2020, August 20). Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.which.co.uk/later-life-care/home-care/organising-home-care/live-in-care-ab4sl1n154ww
