How live-in care with Elder works

To support you in your conversations with service users and/or families who are considering live-in care with Elder, this page details step by step how care is arranged. 

Jump to section:

  1. How to arrange care with us
  2. How live-in care works on a daily basis

1. Book free consultation

The family and/or social worker speaks to the service user’s situation with someone from our expert care team. They’re able to provide advice on navigating the system, discuss how to put funding in place and help you understand whether live-in care is suitable.

2. Complete application form

Following the call, it’s time to complete the application. The family and/or social worker will be provided a MyElder login or by requesting a freepost form. It covers everything from health requirements and medication, to favourite meals and hobbies.

3. Matching process

Our matching team then works with the family and/or social worker to help find the most suitable available carer. We’ll help source them based on the service user’s individual needs and personality.

If needs are urgent, we’re able to put care in place within 48 hours of the initial inquiry.

4. Receive profile & video

Once we’ve helped to find a carer we think is suitable, we’ll give the family and/or social worker access to their profile and introductory video. This provides an opportunity to be completely certain everyone is united behind the decision.

5. Carer arrives and trial week begins

We’ll arrange travel with the carer. They’ll arrive between 12pm-2pm on the first day of the care package. The service user and family will have a trial week to be completely sure live-in care works for them.

6. Manage care with MyElder

MyElder organises all information around care in one, accessible place. From updating payment details and reading carer profiles to planning handover days and, crucially, keeping the service user’s details updated.

How live-in care works on a daily basis

Daily responsibilities

A live-in carer’s responsibilities will range depending on the level of care that’s required. However, standard tasks include:

Household cleaning

Help getting dressed

Personal hygiene

Meal preparation

Medication prompting

Support with mobility

Running errands

Companionship

Emergency response

A familiar and comfortable routine

We do our best to ensure a service user’s care is as consistent as possible. However, like all jobs, time off is needed. Here’s a typical pattern of care:

  • Week one: The service user’s primary carer starts. They live in, working up to ten hours a day, with two hours of breaks taken intermittently throughout the day. This first week is a trial week. If it doesn’t work out, the service user and family is able to cancel. 
  • Week two to three: Provided everything is going well, the carer remains in place, supporting the service user with everything required to make the most of life.
  • Week four: The primary carer takes time off. A substitute, ‘respite’ carer moves in. They’ll take care of the service user until the primary carer returns.
  • Week five to seven: The primary carer returns. They’ll typically be in place for another three to four weeks. This working pattern will usually then continue, so everyone can get into a comfortable and familiar routine.

Discover every detail about live-in care in our 32-page brochure

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