When you live far from an elderly parent who needs extra care it can be difficult to know where to start. Questions like “Are they safe at home?” or “What’s the best way to get them the help they need?” can feel overwhelming.
Where do you start? What are the options?
You might consider options like arranging short daily visits for help with personal care or meal preparation. For those with increasing needs longer visits from skilled professionals might seem like the next step, or perhaps a residential care facility? The options seem endless and how do you really know what they need?
So let’s take a look at the options.
Starting Small: Short Visits for Everyday Help
If your parent is mostly independent but needs help with tasks like personal care, cooking or light cleaning - domiciliary care might be the answer. This option offers regular visits from a carer, providing support without disrupting their routine.
You can look at the local authority’s website for domiciliary care providers in the area or a site such as homecare.co.uk
Stepping Up: Longer Visits for Greater Support
As needs increase, longer visits can provide more tailored assistance. Whether it’s meal preparation, mobility support, medication management or companionship. This is ideal for those who need more than a quick check-in but aren’t ready for full-time care.
Considering Complex Needs: Nurse-Led care
If your parent requires medical care, such as help with medication, specialist feeding methods, or post-hospital recovery a Nurse-led Complex Care service might be appropriate. This type of care provides quality, hospital levels of care at the home but it may not be necessary if their medical needs aren’t complex.
Exploring Residential Care
For some, moving into a nursing home or residential care facility feels like the only option. While this provides round-the-clock care it can mean leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of home.
But what if your parent doesn’t want to leave their home? Or their needs don’t fit neatly into these options?
That’s where live-in care can come in - an option that bridges the gap by providing the right level of support and care while allowing your loved one to stay in the comfort of their own home.
No Place Like Home - A Flexible Alternative to Care Homes
For many live-in care is a welcome alternative to traditional care settings. It allows people to receive the support and care they need without giving up their independence or the comfort of their own home. It’s about providing care on their terms, not fitting into a predefined schedule or environment.
Why Choose Live-In Care?
Stay in Familiar Surroundings: Moving can be stressful and emotional, especially for someone who’s lived in the same home for years. Live-in care eliminates the need to uproot their life helping them stay comfortable in their own space.
Personalised Support: Unlike in a care home where schedules are often rigid, live-in carers work around the persons preferences - whether that’s meal times, hobbies or social visits.
Companionship: A live-in carer doesn’t just provide physical support; they also offer emotional support, often becoming a trusted companion over time.
Maintain Independence: Staying at home means keeping cherished routines, hobbies and social connections intact.
Pets: With live-in care there’s no need to say goodbye - your loved one can keep their furry friends by their side, with carers there to lend a hand with walks, feeding or other pet care tasks.
What Does Live-In Care Include?
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Day-to-Day Assistance: Help with dressing, bathing and mobility
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Meal Preparation: Nutritious, home-cooked meals prepared to their tastes
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Household Chores: Light cleaning, laundry and even running errands
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Medication Management: Ensuring medications are taken safely and on time
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Social and Emotional Support: A friendly presence to chat with, share stories or enjoy quiet companionship
But My Parent Needs More Than Just Personal Care and Companionship...
Ocean Healthcare offers more than standard live-in care service - we provide hospital-at-home levels of care for complex medical needs. Our nurse-led service ensures your loved one receives expert care as their health evolves, allowing them to stay at home longer even with advanced conditions.
Some of the conditions we support -
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Airway and Respiratory Management
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Enteral Feeding such as PEG, nasogastric tube or gastrojejunostomy care
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Our live-in care service can also support Hospital Discharge Care proving a smooth transition back home after a stay in hospital
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Specialist care following Brain or Spinal injury
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Palliative Care for compassionate, end-of-life support
Ok, But How Do I Arrange Live-In Care?
We understand that inviting someone into your or your loved one’s home can feel like a big step. That’s why at Ocean Healthcare we take great care to guide you through every step and make getting started simpler than you might think.
Get in Touch: A quick call or online enquiry sets things in motion. We’ll answer any initial questions you might have during our phone conversation and work out if Ocean Healthcare is a good fit for what you’re looking for.
Free Assessment: We’ll need to visit you and carry out an initial assessment. This helps us to get to know your loved one and what kind of support they need.
Tailored Care Plan: Based on the assessment, we create a personalised care plan with you to match your loved one with the right carer and how best to support their needs and requirements.
Considering Costs
While live-in care may seem like a premium service it’s often more cost-effective than you’d expect - especially for couples who can share the support of one carer. At Ocean Healthcare we offer free assessments to provide a clear understanding of what the costs will be and what’s included.
Ready To Take the Next Step?
If you’re exploring care options for yourself or a loved one live-in care could be the perfect solution. It offers personalised support, companionship and the chance to stay at home, surrounded by all the things that make life meaningful.
To learn more or arrange a free care assessment, contact us today. Whether you have questions about the process, costs or how live-in care works - our friendly team is here to help.
Live-in care isn’t just about meeting needs - it’s about enhancing quality of life and offering peace of mind for everyone involved.
Deciding on care is never easy especially when distance is a factor. Ocean Healthcare is here to guide you through every step, offering compassionate professional live-in care that puts independence and comfort first.
Let us help you make the best decision for your loved one. Start your journey today with Ocean Healthcare.
Your home, your way.