As a live-in carer, you’ll provide personal care to your client. This care could take the form of household chores, getting out and about or simply being there to provide emotional support. The work of a live-in carer can be incredibly rewarding because live-in carers create close bonds with their clients.
By choosing to be a living carer, you are providing somebody with the freedom to live in their own house and abide by their own rules. Not to mention that you are providing an essential service of emotional connection and personal well-being. With live-in care, it’s the little things that matter, so whether you’re watching your client’s favourite TV show with them or administering much-needed healthcare, you’ll be making an immeasurable difference to somebody else’s life.
The reality is that as a live-in carer, your role could entail a number of different things. In addition, having a live-in carer is so important to families that some people may look to borrow $2000 or more to fund the care. No two clients will have exactly the same needs, and no two carers will be able to give the same experience. The role will be incredibly individual to your skills and the needs of your client.
This is what makes live-in care so brilliant for the clients that use it and what makes it such an exciting role to take up.
The role of a live-in carer
As a live-in carer, your role could include:
- Companionship – This is a big part of being a live-in carer. Some of your client’s biggest needs may well be emotional and social. Many people who opt for living care have been living alone for some time and feel isolated and lonely. As a live-in carer, you will be able to provide some social stimulation and compassion for your client. That might look like sharing a conversation over a cup of tea sharing or just spending time together.
- Personal hygiene and care – Many clients who require live-in care will need support with their personal hygiene and care needs. This could look like assisting them with bathing, dressing, and, when necessary, offering continence support. You may also be responsible for other medical support. If this is the case, training will be provided for more complex support needs. Many live-in carers also offer regular physiotherapy and medical support to their clients.
- Household care – As well as helping take care of personal hygiene, a live-in carer may also be responsible for taking care of household chores. A live-in carer will be responsible for ensuring that they have a clean and safe space to live in. In this capacity, responsibilities could entail hoovering, washing clothes, washing up or any number of other things that a client needs.
- Helping with mobility – Live-in carers often find themselves supporting the client with mobility. That might be helping them to get around their own home or assisting them in moving further afield.
- Overseeing medication – Especially for customers whose memory is not what it used to be, overseeing medication is incredibly important. A live-in carer can expect to oversee a client taking their medication and helping them to stick to their customer’s plan.
- Running errands – Taking care of day-to-day tasks such as running errands, picking up prescriptions, and helping with the shopping is all part of what a live-in carer does.
- Preparing and cooking meals – If your client is no longer able to, it may be your job as a live-in carer to prepare and cook healthy and nutritious meals for your client, helping to promote better health. If your client enjoys cooking, this can be a great chance to bond, and maybe they can teach you a thing or two.
Being a live-in carer isn’t right for everyone, but if you truly care about improving somebody else’s life, this special job may just be for you.
