Whether you’re already familiar with live-in respite care or it’s a new concept to you, this flexible and convenient service could be just the break you need as a primary or family caregiver.
Don’t forget, if you’re looking after the well-being of a loved one, prioritising your own health is important, too. While dedicating yourself to your loved one’s care is certainly admirable, prioritising your own health and self-care is equally important for ensuring you can continue to provide the best possible support.
Respite care is a short-term care option that allows the current carer to take a break. Our live-in respite care is a great help if you are struggling to balance the responsibilities of being a primary caregiver with other personal or work commitments. Respite care can provide holiday cover or simply a much needed break to recover from illness, injury or stress.
Not taking regular breaks from caring can put you at risk of exhaustion and leave you feeling run down – a feeling often called ‘carer burnout’. Live-in respite care is a preventative measure to ensure that the primary caregiver and the individual receiving care are both well looked after.
What is live-in respite care?
As a primary caregiver, you may feel like you are being pulled in two different directions. Unexpected events and unmissable appointments can be a headache if you already have a fully packed caring schedule. Live-in respite care can provide the break you need from your caregiving duties while ensuring your loved one is well looked after by one of our compassionate carers.
Live-in respite care allows primary caregivers to focus on other responsibilities or simply take a well-earned break. It’s a flexible form of care that can be employed whenever it is needed so that the responsibility does not solely fall on your shoulders.
A Country Cousins respite carer can help with:
- Steadying and mobility support
- Assistance with personal care such as showering, bathing, shaving and oral hygiene
- Help with dressing
- Medication management
If you struggle to balance work-life, family, and personal time with the responsibility of being a primary carer, live-in respite care is there to support you. We understand that care needs do change, and you may feel that your loved one needs more or less support at different times. Live-in care is a fully flexible service that can adapt and give you the support you need in caring for a family member.
Types of live-in respite care
Live-in respite care is personalised to suit you and your loved one’s needs. In addition to allowing you more time for yourself and other activities, live-in care can encompass a range of beneficial services, such as:
- Standard live-in care
- 24-hour care
- Overnight care
- Condition-led care – e.g. dementia care
- Companion care
- Postoperative care
- Planned respite care
- Emergency respite care
The advantage of live-in respite care over other care services is that you can continue to care for your loved one and benefit from regular breaks. Live-in respite care is one of the most easily adaptable forms of care. With no need to move your family members from their own home, your routines can continue as normal.
What’s included in live-in respite care?
Even though a live-in respite care service can be temporary or short-term, this doesn’t mean that your family member will receive a limited level of care. On the contrary, live-in respite care provides high-quality support so that together with a live-in respite carer, you can offer your loved one the best possible care.
A Country Cousins live-in respite carer can help with:
If you need help maintaining your grooming or personal hygiene routines, a live-in carer can ensure you are always looking and feeling your very best.
Certain health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, may call for a special diet. A live-in respite carer can help with cooking meals to your specifications.
Cleaning and laundry chores can easily mount up and become overwhelming. A live-in respite carer can help you keep on top of these everyday tasks.
If you have your own home to take care of, managing the administrative tasks of another household can be too much to handle. With the support of a live-in respite carer, managing the house is an easier undertaking.
A live-in respite caregiver can provide valuable assistance if you lack the physical capacity to support a loved one facing mobility challenges.
A live-in respite carer can support your family member in maintaining an active social life, both within and outside the home.
After being hospitalised, the individual needing care may need more support or be required to follow specific instructions to aid their recovery. At this stressful time, a live-in carer can carry out post-hospital aftercare without you having to worry.
Unexpected emergencies can happen at any time. Live-in respite carers can be called in should an emergency arise to quickly take over the care of your loved one.
Who is live-in respite care for?
Live-in respite care is for anyone needing a temporary break from their caring responsibilities. The health and wellness of the primary caregiver is as important as the individual needing care. Overstretching yourself as a carer can have serious consequences for your own wellbeing. Neglecting your own doctor’s appointments or not finding the time to exercise or eat regular nutritious meals is easily done when you are distracted by caring responsibilities.
A live-in respite carer can alleviate some of the pressure from full-time caring responsibilities. Whether you require some time for yourself or your primary caregiver is unavailable, bringing in a live-in respite carer can provide the relief you need.
Certain health conditions can also make caring for an individual more challenging. A live-in respite carer specialising in a particular area of care, such as dementia care, is invaluable in this instance. They have experience in handling the issues that stem from such conditions and can help you better manage your loved one’s specific care needs.
“Country Cousins have sourced the most appropriate carers to look after my mum’s challenging needs. The weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I no longer feel alone. I cannot recommend Country Cousins highly enough.”
– Jacqueline
Live-in respite care can give you the opportunity to try out a live-in care service before committing to a more permanent care solution. If full time live-in care is something you are considering for your elderly loved one, trialling live-in respite care could be the perfect way to test out the service.
What are the benefits of live-in respite care?
Live-in respite care offers many benefits to both the caregiver and the individual receiving care. We have all heard of work-life balance, but for primary caregivers, the responsibility of caring for someone is also added to the list of life pressures. Reaching out for help from a live-in respite care service can benefit everyone involved in many ways, including:
- Gives caregivers much-needed time off from the responsibility of caring
- Allows caregivers who fall ill the time to fully recover
- Addresses care-work-life imbalance among caregivers, freeing up time for other activities and responsibilities
- Cover care during busy times or when the caregiver is unable to look after their loved one
- Support when more than one carer is required
- Peace of mind for all the family as the responsibility of caring does not solely fall on one individual
- When care is needed 24/7, such as individuals who may have nighttime needs, such as agitation, wandering or needing reassurance during the night
Why choose Country Cousins for live-in respite care
Country Cousins live-in respite care is a great help if you struggle to balance being a primary caregiver alongside family, work and other life commitments. We understand the importance of self-care and taking breaks when caring for a loved one. Our fully flexible service can take the pressure off and support you as the primary caregiver should you need extra help or a well-deserved break.
Over 400 families trust us daily to match them with the perfect live-in carer. You can depend on us to help you find the most suitable live-in respite care for your loved one. For more advice on choosing in-home care for your elderly loved one, check out our live-in care guide.
Talk to our team today
If you require live-in respite care for your loved one, get in touch with us at Country Cousins today. We are the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, having provided compassionate care to people in their own homes since 1959.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706 should you have any questions about home care. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
