How Mike organised urgent live-in care remotely
When a crisis hits after a hospital discharge, coordinating care with family across miles can feel impossible. Mike shares his story of finding urgent live-in care for his dad Bob and gaining the peace of mind that allowed his family to become children again, not carers.
How Mike found support after his dad’s hospital discharge
Hear directly from Mike as he explains the urgent situation the family faced after his father's hospital discharge and how Elder provided the tools and choice needed to find a supportive, life-saving carer in just three days.
More than a carer: The life-saving difference
Mike's story reveals how Elder's ability to act quickly and involve the whole family from a distance provided a solution that went beyond basic care – it offered safety, companionship, and emotional relief.
The urgency of a hospital discharge crisis
Mike and his family were suddenly faced with a complex care gap after his father's hospital release. The immediate care provided through other services was "nowhere near sufficient," creating a truly desperate situation that Elder solved with speed and assurance:
"My father had been discharged from hospital back to his home... We really were left in quite a desperate situation and that's when we turned to Elder."
"Boy did they deliver on the goods, they came through and we got the first of the carers in place. I think it was within 3 days."
Finding the right carer, together, from a distance
A major challenge for Mike was the geographical distance separating his family members. Elder's process, which allowed for digital viewing and selection of carers, was crucial for enabling the family to coordinate and agree on the best match, ensuring maximum trust:
“My sister and I, we were closer, but we're still 25 miles away from where my father and stepmother lived.”
“We were able to have the conversations online and view the carers collectively between us, even though we might have been 500 miles apart, we could still have those conversations and select an appropriate carer”.
The emotional relief: becoming children again
The impact of finding the perfect match – Godswill – was profound. It meant the family could finally step back from the exhausting role of caregivers and focus on their emotional bond, secure in the knowledge that their father was safe and happy:
"Over that time, we had great surety that they were in a safe place, they were being well looked after, and it then allowed us to just step back and become kids."
"Godswill turned out to be a super carer... Arguably, you might say we were one step behind Godswill when it came to the family, he was that important."
More customer stories about emergency home care
See how Elder’s emergency home care has helped families get trusted support quickly, keeping their loved ones comfortable and cared for at home.
Learn more about our services
Live-in care
Long-term 24-hour support
- A carer lives in the home to provide round-the-clock support
- Suitable for people living with conditions like dementia, reduced mobility, etc.
- For long-term care needs
Respite care
Temporary 24-hour support
- A carer moves in for a few days to provide round-the-clock support
- Suitable to cover for a main caregiver or for a temporary increase in care needs
- Minimum duration of 3 days
Visiting care
Flexible home visits
- Book as many hours as you need for help in the comfort of your home
- Support with everyday tasks like grooming, walks, cooking, etc.
- From as little as 1 hour per week