The Benefits of a Live-In Caregiver

Many older adults can benefit from the help a caregiver provides. As changes in mobility, cognition, vision, and hearing begin to cause difficulty in everyday activities, having an extra pair of hands to help with personal care, daily tasks, transportation, and more can mean the difference between staying in your own home and moving into a long-term care facility.

At first, an in-home caregiver may only be needed occasionally, or for part of the day for specific activities. As time passes, however, incorporating a live-in caregiver may become helpful. How and when should you make the decision to have a live-in caregiver, and what are the benefits of this arrangement?

Why would someone need a live-in caregiver?

It can be helpful to clarify that a live-in caregiver does not provide 24-hour care. They are close by for any unexpected emergencies that could happen, but they also may take days off of work and have hours set aside for sleeping.

However, a live-in caregiver is otherwise regularly dedicated to meeting the needs of an older adult who requires extra daily assistance.

Part-time caregivers vs. live-in caregivers

Many older adults live alone- in the US, it’s as many as 27% of adults age 60 and older, with another 46% living with only one other adult. 1

An older adult who needs caregiver help might at first be able to have visits from family members, friends, and professional caregivers to help with light housekeeping, cooking meals, or personal hygiene.

But this part-time caregiver help may not be a good long-term solution. Someone who has trouble getting around the house safely without falls, for example, might need regular help walking to the bathroom. An older adult with dementia who is prone to wandering could get confused and leave the house, or put themselves at risk for hazards like a home fire.

In these situations, having occasional help or a caregiver for only a few hours out of the day may not be enough. A live-in caregiver is available throughout the day to help with mobility and other activities of daily living, increasing safety for the older adult in their care.

What are some benefits of a live-in caregiver?

Along with the safety benefits discussed above, what are some of the other benefits of a live-in caregiver?

Companionship

Older adults, especially those with mobility and health concerns, are at risk of social isolation. This is true even when they live with a family member, with 43% of older adults reporting loneliness in one survey, even though only 18% of them lived alone.2 A live-in caregiver means a familiar face is always around to help. Live-in caregivers can build a solid relationship with the people in their care and offer consistent companionship.

Help in emergencies

Injuries and medical emergencies can happen, even with caregiver help. Older adults with chronic medical problems can be at risk for unexpected complications, recurring problems, or new infections and illnesses. A live-in caregiver may notice these problems early and get medical care before they become serious. And in emergencies, having someone close by to help, even if it’s calling 911 quickly, can make the difference in a situation where every second counts.

Support for families

For families who are providing care to a loved one, a live-in caregiver can offer support and peace of mind for family caregivers. Adult children often still juggle other responsibilities like jobs, childcare, and more. Coordinating schedules with paid caregivers from outside the home can become complicated and may not be flexible enough. A live-in caregiver can offer more flexibility, readily available as schedules change.

Consistency

As mentioned earlier, a live-in caregiver is a source of consistent companionship. Instead of a rotating schedule of different paid caregivers, you or your loved one can count on the same friendly face every day. A live-in caregiver gets to know the routines you prefer, your favorite activities, and your dislikes as well as your likes. This can be especially helpful for people with dementia, who can benefit from predictability.

Reduced risk of infections

Along with the consistency provided by a live-in caregiver, having one automatically limits the number of people coming and going from your home. During the era of COVID-19, this has obvious benefits, lowering the risk of infection.

Even more importantly, receiving care at home vs. a long-term care facility also reduces your exposure to community spread of illnesses. It’s estimated that healthcare-associated infections are responsible for 380,000 deaths each year. 3 By staying in your own home with a live-in caregiver, you reduce exposure to illnesses like the flu, pneumonia, RSV, and others.

Assistance for aging in place

Most older adults prefer to stay in their own homes for as long as possible–also known as aging in place. It can be difficult to do this as the need for care increases. Assisted living facilities and other long-term care solutions can provide regular care, but so can a live-in caregiver, without a person needing to leave behind their familiar home environment and community.

What kinds of care do live-in caregivers provide?

A live-in caregiver can provide personal care (but not medical care). What this means is that they can offer all the same care as any other in-home care, including:

Bathing & dressing
Light housekeeping
Bathroom assistance
Transportation
Meal prep
Companionship
Help with safe ambulation (walking)

They cannot provide medical care in the home, such as:

Medication administration (including IV medications)
Nursing care
Wound care
Rehabilitation services (such as physical therapy)
Any other services that treat a health condition

Making the transition to a live-in caregiver

Deciding to use a live-in caregiver is a big step. They’ll need to have access to their own private space in your home, and you’ll need to feel comfortable with this person being a regular presence in your life.

Some questions you might ask when trying to choose a professional live-in caregiver include:

How many years of experience do they have?
Do they have any experience with your specific medical problem(s)?
What certifications do they have? Are they CPR trained?

To help make the transition to a live-in caregiver go more smoothly, you might consider starting out on a trial basis with regularly scheduled care so that everyone can get to know each other and see if things feel like a good fit. You may even find that you are already using a caregiver regularly who might be interested in a role as a live-in caregiver instead.

If you are exploring in-home care options and would like experienced support to find out more about live-in caregiver services and how they can help you or a loved one, Caresify has expert caregivers available to help meet your care needs. You can learn more here, or call 888-799-5007.

Providing personalized in-home care to seniors