Q: How do you screen the self-employed carers before they join the Elder platform?

We understand that families put a lot of trust in the self-employed carers on our platform, so to join our platform carers must pass the following suitability screening – Have previous experience providing care either in people’s homes, or in a care home or specialist facility. We don’t accept personal care experience alone. Have a good understanding of the English language (written and spoken) Have a valid form of photo I.D Have the Right to Work in the UK Have the ability to pass an enhanced DBS check (England and Wales only) Be able to provide at least 2 verifiable professional references Complete situational judgement and character screening

Q: Elder is a Marketplace, how is this different to a care agency?

Elder is an online marketplace connecting families needing care to self-employed carers. We use technology to match you to the most suitable carers and allow you to choose the carer you feel best fits your needs. We also give you the simple online tools you need to manage care. And, unlike with a care agency, your care agreement will be between you and your self-employed carer. This gives you complete control over the care experiences, ensuring your loved one is cared for in a way they’re comfortable with – protecting independence, dignity, and routine. You can find out more about how Elder works here.

Q: Do the self-employed carers on Elder's Platform have insurance?

We recommend all self-employed carers using our platform take out the relevant insurance. We’ve partnered with a third-party insurance company – Fish Insurance to make this process easier for self-employed carers.

Q: Is Elder Registered with the CQC or Care Inspectorate?

At Elder we help families and self-employed carers do three critical things safely: (1) find each other, (2) match with each other and (3) manage their ongoing relationship directly. We enable this through the development of technology and processes that families and carers use. The agreement for care is between the customer and the self-employed carer – therefore Elder is not required to be registered with the Care Quality Commission or the Care Inspectorate. However, everything we do at Elder is underpinned by respect, transparency, safety, and integrity. You can read our full safety and trust policy here.

Q: What happens if I need to cancel my care agreement Where can I find Elder's policies and standards?

You can find our full list of policies and standards here.

Question 1

How do I search for and choose a carer?

Accepted Answer

Once you’ve created your MyElder account, you’ll need to complete some online clinical suitability questions and submit a ‘Care Request’. This can often be completed in under 10 minutes, and ensures Elder’s platform is right for your needs, and gives us the essential information we need to kick off the carer matching process. Questions cover – Basic information such as the name, age and location of the person needing care medical conditions mobility level hobbies and interests discrimination risk Once submitted, our ElderMatch technology will use your answers to shortlist suitable self-employed carers. You’ll usually recieve the profiles of suitable carers within 24 hours. Profiles contain details of the carers experience and background, and feedback they’ve recieved from other families. You’ll also be able to view a short introductory video from the carer to get to know them a little better. You can invite other family members / decision makers to your account to help review potential carers, and can use the chat feature in MyElder to message the carers you’re interested in, and arrange a phone / video call with them. If you’re unsure what to ask potential carers, we have some suggestions here. Once you’ve found a self-employed carer you’d like to work with, click ‘accept’ on their profile. For more tips for choosing the right carer for your needs, click here.

Question 2

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

You can create your MyElder account by clicking this link.

Creating an account is free, and there’s no obligation to move forward with Elder once you’ve created your account.

Question 3

How will I know if Elder's services are suitable for my needs?

Accepted Answer

Our Care Request questions have been developed by our in-house clinical team to automatically screen whether Elder’s services are appropriate for your needs. If your answers indicate that the level of care needed falls outside the scope of what a self-employed carer on our platform can provide, you’ll be notifed and have the chance to speak to one of our team for guidance on what to do next.

Question 4

Can I have more than one carer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you would like to work with more than one self-employed carer, for example, if you’d like one daytime and one nighttime carer, simply submit a separate care request for each – detailing the the needs each carer will be supporting with.

Question 5

How quickly can care be arranged?

Accepted Answer

Because we’re a marketplace operating across Great Britain we can often connect families to self-employed carers within 24 hours. In some urgent instances, we’ve facilitated matches same day.

Question 6

Can I request a male or female carer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we give you the choice if you’d prefer a male or female carer, simply let us know if you or your loved one has a preference.

Question 7

Will the self-employed carer be English-speaking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every carer who joins our platform must have a good level of written and spoken English.

If you’d prefer a carer who also speaks a second language, simply let us know.

Question 8

Can I meet the carer before they arrive?

Accepted Answer

Many families use Elder Chat in your MyElder account to introduce themselves to their carer and arrange a follow-up phone or video call. If your carer is nearby and available, you may also be able to arrange a face-to-face meeting between yourselves before their first day.

Question 9

Is there anything I need to do to prepare the homes for a self-employed live-in carer?

Accepted Answer

A carer who moves into your loved one’s home will need their own space in which to sleep and spend time when they are not actually providing care. Most commonly, a carer will have a bedroom of their own, but if this is not practical, you could adapt a reception room or study for them to use – as long as it’s a private space i.e not a thoroughfare to another room or in regular use by other family members during the day.

The live-in carer will not need a bathroom of their own, although this would be preferable. They will need clean and functional bathroom facilities that they can use, and if sharing a bathroom, there should be somewhere for them to store toiletries.

We also recommend setting up a WiFi connection if you don’t have one already. The internet is useful for many things, including keeping in touch with Elder, which can be even more important if you live in a rural location with poor phone signal.

Question 10

Do I need to provide food for a self-employed live-in carer?

Accepted Answer

The carer will prepare meals and probably eat with you / your loved one, so separate dining facilities will not be needed. We’d recommend budgeting £40 per week for the carer’s food. However, if you’d like us to arrange it, we can add it to your weekly payments.

If the carer has any special dietary requirements they may prefer to provide their own food. We recommend discussing this with your chosen carer to come to an agreement that everyone is happy with.

Question 11

How many hours can a self-employed live-in carer work?

Accepted Answer

Self-employed carers will usually work between 8-12 hours per day.

Question 12

Will a self-employed live-in carer look after my loved one's personal care needs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The self-employed carers on Elder’s platform provide personal care, which may include – toileting and continence washing and bathing getting dressed oral care hair care and grooming medication prompting Some people may feel uncomfortable accepting help with intimate personal care tasks. If this is the case, it’s really important to detail how much support or supervision is needed, and any measures that may make things more comfortable in your Care request and Care Profile This will ensure your self-employed carer has all the information they need to support you / your loved one.

Please note, the self-employed carers on the Elder platform will not be expected to undertake Stoma care, PEG care, Wound care, Ventilation and oxygen support, e.g BiPAP or CPAP Support, Specialist drug administration, including Controlled Drug Administration, Covert Medication Administration, Glucose readings via finger pricks, Injections, Pessaries, Enemas, Suppositories, or Catheterisation

For more information, visit our quick guide for customers.

Question 13

Do self-employed carers provide night-time support?

Accepted Answer

Yes, self-employed live-in carers can provide occasional night-time support, for example, helping the person they’re caring for get to the toilet, or providing reassurance if they wake up confused.

Carers expect to assist with night-time disturbances up to 2x per night for around 15 minutes on average. If your loved one requires more support than this, you’ll need to make alternative arrangements, such as waking night care. Live-in carers must get enough rest, so a self-employed carer should not expect to exceed these waking times unless he/she is a waking night carer.

For more information, visit our quick guide for customers.

Question 14

Does a self-employed live-in carer do housework?

Accepted Answer

While self-employed live-in carers aren’t professional cleaners, they can support with some light housework as part of their weekly duties. This may include – wiping down surfaces vacuuming and mopping floors emptying rubbish bins laundry changing bed linens Expectations around household cleaning should be discussed and agreed upon with your carer before they begin the placement.

Self-employed carers are not expected to perform deep-cleaning tasks. It’s recommended that you enlist the services of a professional cleaning company for deeper cleaning or specialist expertise.

Question 15

What happens when my self-employed live-in carer takes time off?

Accepted Answer

When your live-in carer takes time off you can use Elder to search for a self-employed respite carer to cover their break. Here’s how the process works – Together, you’ll discuss when they plan to take their break. They’ll then book their time off via our carer platform – The ElderHub. The dates will be automatically advertised on the ElderHub, and other carers will be able to apply to cover the period. You can then choose from applicants, following the same process you used to select your first carer on MyElder.

Your primary carer will also receive the respite carer’s details so they can discuss key aspects of your loved one’s care and plan a smooth handover. For more information, click here. (link tbc)

If you choose to make private arrangements or have a family member step in to provide care instead, remember to let us know so that we can pause your care schedule to ensure you’re not invoiced for this period.

Question 16

Can I use local authority or NHS funding to pay for Elder's services?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a number of families use funding to cover all or part of their care costs.

Depending on your financial situation, you may qualify for some level of live-in care funding from your local council. If you don’t qualify you may decide to use savings, or release money from your home.

Some people with long-term complex health needs are eligible for social care arranged and funded in full by the NHS. However it’s worth noting that this funding is reserved for those with more intensive health and care needs, meaning those who qualify may require specialist care, for example PEG feeding or stoma support. This falls outside of what an introductory service like Elder can facilitate.

For information on funding options, please take a look at our ‘Funding your Care’ guide.

Live life your way with live-in care

More affordable

Keep your routine

Choose your carer

5-star support

Our care services

Live-in care

Respite care

Visiting care

Why choose live-in care?

We are an award-winning marketplace connecting families and carers

6000+ self-employed carers on our platform

Over 13 million hours of home care enabled

9/10 families find their ideal carer first-time

Why Elder?

A personal touch

We keep you in control

More affordable than you think

Is live-in care suitable?

Carers can help with the following things:

Specialist care that falls outside of carers' services:

Helping you find a friendly face and safe pair of hands

The cost of live-in care

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We've helped thousands of families living with dementia

We'll only match you to carers with dementia care experience

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Live-in care transforms lives

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FAQs

How do I search for and choose a carer?

How do I create an account?

How will I know if Elder's services are suitable for my needs?

Can I have more than one carer?

How quickly can care be arranged?

Can I request a male or female carer?

Will the self-employed carer be English-speaking?

Can I meet the carer before they arrive?

Is there anything I need to do to prepare the homes for a self-employed live-in carer?

Do I need to provide food for a self-employed live-in carer?

How many hours can a self-employed live-in carer work?

Will a self-employed live-in carer look after my loved one's personal care needs?

Do self-employed carers provide night-time support?

Does a self-employed live-in carer do housework?

What happens when my self-employed live-in carer takes time off?

Can I use local authority or NHS funding to pay for Elder's services?

FAQs

How do you screen the self-employed carers before they join the Elder platform?

How do I create an account?

Elder is a Marketplace, how is this different to a care agency?

Do the self-employed carers on Elder's Platform have insurance?

Is Elder Registered with the CQC or Care Inspectorate?

What happens if I need to cancel my care agreement Where can I find Elder's policies and standards?

Become a part of the Elder community

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