Dementia Live-in Care: What Is It?

Advantages of Live-in Care

People living with dementia can easily become upset, anxious or even aggressive when they can no longer understand their environment, so moving them away from familiar surroundings can trigger difficult episodes for them. Most professionals agree that the best place for someone who needs dementia care is in their own home. This is the place where they feel safest and most comfortable.

Private care can provide the continuity that people who have dementia need to feel safe. Having a live-in carer means that they will not be upset by seeing many different faces, as they would if they had to go into a residential care home. Familiarity and routine can provide reassurance to someone who is confused and vulnerable.

If your loved one is living alone with dementia, you may be worried about their safety – they may leave taps running, forget to turn the gas off or leave the house at night. Dementia care at home means they have supervision from a private live-in carer who will be there 24 hours a day to provide all the help they need.

Independent Living

A person does not have to give up all their independence because they have a condition such as dementia and there are many ways in which they can maintain independence. Making everyday choices such as what or when to eat can help to improve their quality of life. It is easier for someone to remain independent in their own home with 24/7 care than to move into residential care where they are likely to feel they have lost their independence.

Dulcie’s care story

Duclie is one of our longest serving customers. In this video her and her family talk through their decision to arrange care in the home rather than the care home.

Individual Care

If you choose live-in care for your loved one, a detailed care plan will be drawn up identifying their needs and wishes. Person-centred home care focuses on their life experiences, values, the people who are important to them, their likes and dislikes and many other important individual aspects. Using this knowledge, the carer can gain an understanding of the person, develop a friendship in many cases and work towards helping them to enjoy the best quality of life possible.

Both family members and your loved one can contribute to the care plan, and it will detail the things that are most important to them, how they would like things done and generally assist them in making lifestyle choices as far as they are able. This document can be used on a day-to-day basis by the carer to ensure that the best support is provided. If your loved one’s needs change, the care plan will be amended to reflect this.

Live-in Dementia Care

Private live-in care providers ensure that their live-in care staff are appropriately trained to support the care recipient. Many have Alzheimer’s care training and will have experience of assisting people with this condition. If this type of care is needed the carer will understand how important communication is, and will have undergone training in helping people with this condition. They will know how best to support not only the person with dementia but those close to them too, as they can also experience stress at times.

Some of the aspects of life that a live-in carer will assist with include personal care such as washing and dressing, supporting the person to engage in social activities and planning and preparing nutritious meals. They will also carry out household tasks such as laundry and cleaning and may help with gardening or pet care in some cases.

They will also take over the management of the house if required and help the person with any mobility problems they may have. If your loved one can go out on trips or to the shops, a live-in carer will also assist with this.

Searching for the best care solution for a loved one who is living with dementia can be difficult, but deciding on a trusted companion who can be with them 24/7 could provide much-needed peace of mind for the whole family.

Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia bring challenges both to the person with the condition and to the people who are close to them. Every individual with dementia has different needs, wishes and experiences, which is why a person-centred approach to care is so important. To provide the best care for elderly people living with dementia, the caregiver has to understand the person, be aware of their history, their likes and dislikes and what is most important to them.