A Day in the Life of a Live-in Carer
Discover a day in the life of a live-in carer and how live-in care services work. Browse carer vacancies in Edinburgh.
When you think of professional home care, you likely imagine brief daily visits from a carer.
One of the main benefits of home care services is that you can create a tailored support package to suit your needs. Live-in care can be a great solution for people who need more consistent support.
Although a live-in carer will complete some core tasks every day, you will be surprised at how varied the work can be!
Whether you are interested in becoming a live-in carer, or you’re starting to consider a care at home solution for a loved one, this blog will help you understand what a typical day in the life of a live-in carer looks like.
What is a live-in carer?
A live-in carer is a dedicated professional carer who resides in the same home as their client to provide around-the-clock care.
Live-in carers offer more than just continuous support and supervision. They keep elderly or unwell people safe and comfortable in their own homes, and help them live as fulfilling and independent a life as possible.
Live-in carers will require their own private living space and meals, and will typically offer 12 hours of continuous care per day. If night-time or overnight care is required, a secondary carer will typically get involved so the primary carer can get enough rest.
When setting up live-in care, continuity of care is key. Carers typically work on rotation: for example, the primary carer will work for two weeks and then a secondary carer will step in for a week.
A day in the life of a live-in carer
Morning routine
A live-in carer’s day will always start in-line with the individual’s routine.
Alongside a gentle wakeup, the carer may be required to provide physical assistance with morning tasks, such as:
Help getting out of bed;
Bathing;
Going to the toilet.
Then, the meal that sets us all up for the day: breakfast! A live-in carer will get to know their client’s favourite foods, dislikes, and potential food hazards, to create a nutritious breakfast that meets individual requirements.
This is also the time that medication will be administered if any, and any relevant observations will be recorded and documented.
An individual may also require help with styling their hair, brushing their teeth, or applying creams and or makeup.
Afternoon activities
This is the part of the day that will typically vary the most.
Alongside preparing lunch and administering required medication, an afternoon for a live-in carer can include practical tasks, such as taking clients to appointments or picking up groceries.
The goal of a live-in carer is to provide a better quality of life for the person they care for, so a lot of emphasis is placed on wellbeing and mental stimulation.
These activities will vary depending on each person’s unique health circumstances, but could include:
Engaging in much-loved hobbies such as gardening or painting;
Puzzles or jigsaws;
A gentle walk or time outdoors.
It is crucial to keep the home environment clean and tidy, to ensure it is free of hazards that could cause injuries. That’s why our carers will complete light housework tasks for clients, including making beds, dusting, and doing laundry.
Emotional support is as important as physical assistance. Research from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that loneliness can increase risks of developing dementia by 50%, and heart attacks and strokes by 30%.
That’s why companionship is a huge part of the role of a live-in carer. This could be as simple as watching TV together, having a chat with a cup of tea, or listening to stories about the past to bond.
Evening Unwinding
Finally, the evening is all about relaxing and preparing for a good night’s sleep.
Alongside preparing dinner and administering any final medications, a live-in carer will typically manage all bed-time related activities, such as:
Washing;
Undressing;
Assistance getting into bed.
Calming activities are key at this point in the day, such as reading, watching TV, or having a cup of tea.
Care vacancies in Edinburgh
A career as a live-in carer is not for everyone. The role is both challenging and incredibly rewarding, and requires positivity, patience, compassion, and professionalism.
If reading this blog has made you think that a career as a live-in carer is a good fit for you, we would love to chat.
We recruit carers across Edinburgh and the Lothians. We provide extensive training and ongoing supervision for all staff, with regular check-ins and professional development opportunities to help you build a fulfilling career.
If you would like to learn more, either register your details or view our current vacancies.
Live-in care from Medway Care Services
At Medway Care Services, we are committed to delivering the highest-quality care.
Our Care Manager is a registered nurse, who uses years of experience to create bespoke and flexible live-in care plans for every client. We always try to match our clients with a local carer with shared interests to help build a strong relationship.
Before agreeing on a care package, we offer a free, no obligation assessment to understand the needs of every client and arrange a visit with the carer we think is the most suitable.
We offer a trial period, so the client can meet the primary and secondary carers and decide if they want to continue with the service long-term.
Our carers have years of experience in handling a wide range of medical needs, including:
Dementia
Alzheimer’s
Parkinson’s
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Stroke
Cancer
Rehabilitation
Mental health support
Learning difficulties
