Have you considered live-in care?
If your support needs are significant but you want to stay living in your own home could live-in care be right for you? Live-in care means you have a carer with you 24/7, and that can provide so much reassurance, especially at night. Live-in carers are able to help you with; washing and dressing; meal preparation; and keeping on top of household chores. They can also help you get out and about for some fresh air and exercise, and of course provide companionship too. Do note that you will need to have a property with a spare bedroom for the carer.
What if my needs keep changing?
Live-in care doesn’t have to be permanent. It can also be a great way to provide intensive care in the short term following illness or discharge from hospital.
How do I find live-in carers?
You can employ your own live-in carer directly or use an organisation such as Home & Company. Some live-in carers work for several weeks before taking a significant break, others may work as a small team of two or three carers on a rotation.
Funding live-in care
Funding live-in care can be a concern for people. There are financial advisors who are specially accredited to work with older people through the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA). They can help with equity release and other appropriate schemes. Look up your local SOLLA advisor at https://societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk or call 0333 2020 454.
Aids and adaptations
If you’ve decided you want to stay in your own home it might be time to make some adjustments to your property. Some quite small aids and adaptations could make your home much easier to live in. Simple things like long-handled shoehorns and grabbers can make dressing much quicker. Raisers can make beds and chairs much easier to get in and out of. Kettle tippers can be the difference between making a cup of tea and not bothering. Grab rails are great for getting in and out of the front door. Other adaptations might be more grand-scale, like having a ramp installed or re-siting a shower and toilet downstairs. Age UK has a great website with information on adapting your home. And it’s worth popping into your local mobility centre as they stock a range of equipment and are usually a good source of advice too.
In Brighton & Hove (do check with other local councils) there is a scheme to help people who need to make adaptations. The maximum funding available is £5,000 and it is not means-tested. If it would help you to have, for example, a stair lift or a level access shower in the bathroom this scheme could really help. You will need a referral from an Occupational Therapist (OT). Do make an OT appointment via your GP practice. For more information about the adaptations scheme contact the Housing Adaptations Service at Hove Town Hall on 01273 292443. Or email them at adaptations@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Could live-in care be right for you? Do give us a ring if it would be helpful to discuss.