Live in Care versus Care Home

nad1611

Following on from other threads on this matter I'm wondering if anyone chose to have a live in carer instead of arranging for a relative to go into a Home.
My father has dementia and we are a big family. Needless to say there are differing opinions on what's best for him. My feeling is that his own home would always be the best place for Dad for as long as it can be managed. Others feel enough is enough and he'll only get the "right care" in a Nursing Home. A few weeks back my brother who lives with him said he couldn't do this any longer and it seemed the only option was a Nursing Home and we started loking at choices for Dad.

Dad has carers in every day at present, my brother who lives with Dad had some time away. Dad had the same carer for 5 days staying both day and night and I saw Dad every afternoon to check all was well. I saw a marked change in Dad for the better, he seemed much calmer and relaxed and wasn't getting his usual bouts of agitation. I think having someone actually sitting with him and being there literally every minute had a positive effect.

So it then got me thinking are we jumping the gun a bit here. Why are we moving Dad out when he could get the care he needs at home. My argument being that it would be one on one care in his own home, no upheaval and we'll be able to keep a better eye on him and review his care better than in a home.

So does anyone have any experience of this? How did it work for you? How did the costs compare to being in a Care Home?
Thanks in advance.

pmlindyloo

No personal experience of this but a quick goggle showed this agency saying that a live in carer would cost between £600 - £700 a week.

http://www.christiescare.com/

If this can be afforded then I would agree that if such a care could meet all his needs, then at home is the best place for him.

arbrighton

Bear in mind that he may deteriorate and whether his home can be adapted, e.g. to bathe him or lift him. Also whether the property can be made secure so that he cannot wander away from home

Errata

A professional live in carer won't be on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Who will fill the gaps when they're off duty?

pmlindyloo

Errata wrote: »

A professional live in carer won't be on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Who will fill the gaps when they're off duty?

Usually there are two carers who cover the 24 hours between them eg. one doing night duty.

Indie_Kid

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Usually there are two carers who cover the 24 hours between them eg. one doing night duty.

This is what mum does.

Has your dad received any assessments from social services? And does he receive attendance allowance? Unless he's self funding, he'll lose this if he goes into a care home.

Brighton_belle

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Usually there are two carers who cover the 24 hours between them eg. one doing night duty.

Surely there must be more than 2, as otherwise, neither of them get a weekend break and are doing 12 hrs shifts each?

Errata

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Usually there are two carers who cover the 24 hours between them eg. one doing night duty.

Each doing 12 hour shifts 7 days a week? Not likely very likely.

pmlindyloo

I don't know whether this is the norm but have a read of this:
http://www.controladev4.co.uk/christiescare2/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/living-independently.pdf

Mojisola

nad1611 wrote: »

A few weeks back my brother who lives with him said he couldn't do this any longer and it seemed the only option was a Nursing Home and we started loking at choices for Dad.

I think having someone actually sitting with him and being there literally every minute had a positive effect.

So it then got me thinking are we jumping the gun a bit here. Why are we moving Dad out when he could get the care he needs at home. My argument being that it would be one on one care in his own home, no upheaval and we'll be able to keep a better eye on him and review his care better than in a home.

As the main carer, you all need to listen to your brother. If you got live-in carers, would your brother still be living there? If so, he would still be carrying a lot of the responsibility for your father's health and well-being.

I looked into live-in care a few years ago but it was as expensive as a good care home and we would still have had all the costs of running a home on top of the carer's wages.

There are several national companies who provide live-in carers. The ones I looked at arrange a carer for about four to six weeks at a time after which they have to have a break and someone else comes to stay. They also have to have at least two hours a day off each day. Their wages are based on how much care the person needs - the more personal needs and night work needed, the more the price goes up.

pmlindyloo

In the end this comes down, in my opinion to two things:

Can the care your dad needs be met by live in carers?

Can he afford it?

I do not honestly believe that anyone, given the answer being 'yes' to both the above questions, would hesitate to use live in carers rather than a care home. There is just no comparison.