If you’re exploring care options for yourself or a loved one, you may have particular requirements such as round-the-clock care or overnight care. In this article, we explain how live-in care works and how it differs from another similar type of care – 24-hour care – to help you make the right choice for your needs.
So, do live-in carers stay overnight? Live-in carers live in your home 24/7. However, they typically only work for 8-10 hours per day and are not expected to provide overnight care, with the exception of emergencies. Those that require overnight care may benefit from specialist overnight or 24-hour care.
Read on to learn more about how live-in care works and how it differs from 24-hour care.
How Does Live-in Care Work?
Live-in care means having a fully qualified carer living with you in your own home. It is a great alternative for those that require care but don’t want to move into a residential care home. Live-in carers are on hand 24/7 to assist with personal and medical care, housekeeping and domestic tasks, dietary needs and companionship.
Live-in carers typically work between 8-10 hours per day. This may not be consecutive, but spread throughout the day to ensure continuity of care. They are available for emergencies for the remainder of the day.
Do Live-in Carers Stay Overnight?
Live-in carers live with you in your home 24/7. This includes staying overnight. They are there to cover night-time issues as necessary, however should not be expected to wake up multiple times throughout the night. If you have requirements for such care, 24-hour care may be more suitable.
Do Live-in Carers Get Time Off?
As previously stated, live-in carers are expected to work for 8-10 hours per day. They have a designated number of hours off-duty per week – usually around 14 hours. This is broken down into a couple of hours off-duty per day to do as they wish. During this time, another carer can be provided if you are unable to be alone.
Due to long working hours, most care agencies assign 2 carers to each client, working on a rotation basis. For example, your carer may live with you for 1 month, then take a 2 week break during which time another carer will stay with you. Carers on rotation will usually be the same few familiar faces to ensure optimal care and comfort.
What is 24-Hour Care?
24-hour care goes above and beyond live-in care. Carers typically work in tandem to deliver live-in care throughout the day, with on-call care available throughout the night from a second carer.
This is particularly beneficial for individuals that need specialist care at all hours of the day, or those with medical requirements that need round-the-clock care.
How Does Live-in Care Differ from 24-Hour Care?
The key difference between live-in care and 24-hour care is that live-in carers are not expected to provide on-call care throughout the night. They live with you in your home, but are not expected to work throughout the night with the exception of emergencies.
| Live-in Care | 24-Hour Care |
| 1 carer living with you 24/7 | Multiple carers working on a rotation basis |
| Available only for emergencies throughout the night | Available on-call throughout the night |
| Carers work 8-10 hour days at your home | Carers may be provided in 8-hour shifts to ensure ongoing care throughout the day |
What Care Do Live-in Carers Provide?
Live-in carers are there to provide assistance as required. This can include personal and health care, such as help with hygiene and washing, dressing, and shaving. It may also include assistance with medication and other healthcare related tasks.
Additionally, live-in carers may offer domestic support around the home, such as shopping, cleaning, washing, ironing and other light housework. They can also help with cooking and ensuring that any dietary requirements are met.
A key benefit of live-in care, especially for the elderly, is companionship. Living alone can be isolating and lonely at times, but live-in carers can help to facilitate contact with family and friends as well as offer their own time to engage in hobbies and interests or join in with community activities. On the practical side of things, carers can also offer support in attending appointments and generally getting around outside of the home.
Home Care at Rivendell Care
At Rivendell Care, we offer a range of home care services in North West London, including live-in care and 24-hour care. When creating our care plans for live-in care, we encourage input from the client, their family, friends and medical professions.
This, alongside our tailor-made assessment, allows us to look at a person as an individual to plan the care around their lifestyle, daily routine, dietary requirements, likes/dislikes, religious and cultural beliefs and more.
Book a home care assessment today to learn more about how our carers can support you or a loved one.
