7 Things You Should Know About Live-In Care – 2024 Guide

At one point or another, kids move out of their homes where they have lived with their parents to build a better career or new family. As our parents grow old, they end up needing more care and attention than ever. If your mother has started becoming forgetful and she is not very attentive towards the household, it is probably time that you sought help in this regard.

 

People don’t normally wish to move out of their home where they have lived for ages, and that is where the live-in care comes in handy. You can opt to get your parents a live-in caregiver who will cater to their needs.

1. Make Sure They Are Active

You don’t want a lousy person taking care of your parents, which can be especially hard to deal with. You are appointing a caregiver who needs to be active and responsive. They are there to make up for the ways in which your parent cannot take care of themselves, to ensure that they perform their job properly. You can consult a company that provides live-in caregivers or their contact numbers. Do check their qualification and resume before you appoint them.

2. They Ought To Know About Medications

If your parents are old, chances are they must be suffering from some kind of disease. When the caregiver arrives, you can guide them all about the medications; make sure they can have a copy of doctor’s prescription. Also, make sure they know about the correct dosage and timings. If they don’t know about the dosage then they might overdose your parents, you have to be careful that the caregiver is not so negligent. A lot of doctors prescribe CBD for pain management nowadays, get more info her, warn them to be especially careful with that.

3. Make It Legal

This is good for both parties. Often, due to the absence of a contract, the live-in caregiver can leave suddenly, and you will be left to juggle your job and caregiving responsibilities. To counter this issue even before it starts, you should have a contract drafted and get it signed by the caregiver. In the event where you’re hiring a live-in caregiver from a company, they will be the ones offering you a contract. If a company doesn’t suggest that, then you can be sure that they are probably not the best option that you have.

4. Discuss The Rules

Every household has different rules, and your parents might have preferences about how everything works at your place, you should discuss all the rules clearly. Also, make sure that the fees and the working hours of the caregiver are clearly outlined in the contract and verbally discussed between both parties. This will avoid any trouble in the future regarding the expectations of both parties from the job. If you’re seeking help from a caregiving agency, then opt for a company that’s reputable. They will surely provide you with a caregiver that suits your needs. For example, if you have to stay out for eight hours at a night shift because of work, the agency should be able to provide you with a caregiver for the night.

5. Discuss Incontinence Care

A lot of people avoid talking about the issue of incontinence care. For example, people tend to have this assumption that caregivers won’t be comfortable with it, some are afraid that they will be downright refused. While I understand this stigma, you must also understand that it is imperative to discuss this beforehand. A lot of elderly people can have the problem of incontinence, and they might require care and support in this regard. You should try to find them a caregiver that is comfortable with the idea of dealing with urine incontinence.

 

6. Stays In Touch

You should also ensure that the caregiver you’re hiring is staying in touch with you. Remember to keep checking up on them to ask about your parent’s health and mental condition. Ask them if your parents have been doing alright emotionally. This is very important especially if you live in another city. You won’t get to know all about your parents just by talking to them. Also, it is the duty of a good caregiver to remain in touch with you and report about the health of your parents.

7. Make Sure They Pay Attention

More than all the physical needs, you are going to need the caregiver to pay attention to your parents. They should be there for your parents’ mental and emotional support. A caregiver who is always busy on the phone is probably not the best bet. Be careful with your choice and if you are seeking the help of a company then make sure that it is a reputable agency with a lot of positive reviews. You can ask around friends and family to figure out if they have any suggestions in this regard.