A Day in the Life of a Live-in Carer - Julie in Odiham
What’s live-in care really like? To find out we asked one of our live-in carers, Julie, to keep a diary for a day. Here it is.
Top of the morning to you
Live-in care has become my dream job. My day starts at 6am, but that suits me as I have always been an early riser. I get up, washed and dressed, and head downstairs for a cup of coffee. I draw back the curtains and look out across the garden at the birds, then throw some crusts out and watch the magpies and pigeons fight for the food.
After just a few minutes to myself, I make a cup of tea for Maggie, my client, and head back upstairs. I knock on her bedroom door and take her tea in with a cheery “good morning”. Maggie is pleased to see me, “you were up early” she says, “it gives me so much reassurance to hear you up and about”.
We chat briefly about the birds I saw in the garden, and when Maggie’s finished her tea we head to the bathroom for the normal morning personal care routine. With Maggie now looking ready to take on the world, we go down to the kitchen for breakfast. The Today programme is on in the background (another new presenter?), and I prepare breakfast for us both – cereal and toast, washed down with plenty of tea. Whilst Maggie is finishing hers, I wash up quickly and make her bed.
Elevenses
It’s 10am and time to get out and stretch our legs. Coats on, and we make our way up Odiham high street to the Co-op, where we love to come to look for a bargain. We head for the reduced bin first and yes, we’re in luck, and pick up some really nice bread and rolls going cheap. After picking up some other supplies we head home with big smiles on our faces.
I make us each a mug of coffee and we sit on Maggie’s patio in the warm sunshine, munching chocolate digestives, watching the fish in her pond and listening to the birds singing. Maggie tells me a bit more about her childhood, about how her father brought the family to Basingstoke after the war, and how the history of the borough saw Basingstoke expand hugely from the 1960s onwards.
Hearty lunch
11.45am and we go back inside to start preparing lunch. Maggie likes a good, cooked lunch every day, and as I bought us some lamb mince yesterday I suggest shepherds pie. Maggie agrees and I get to work, pleased to be doing a dish that I think I’m rather good at. Maggie meanwhile sits in the kitchen reading the paper, and commenting on the big news of the day.
Lunch goes down well, and Maggie compliments me on my shepherd’s pie. She sits in the lounge and has a snooze in her favourite armchair while I clear away, do the washing up and then go on my daily break.
Let's put the world to rights
4pm and back from my break, I pop the kettle on and take Maggie a cup of tea. Maggie has been thinking about her garden and planting some bulbs for spring. We head outside together and she shows me where she would like them planted. I plant daffodils and snow drops, and do a bit of weeding, which makes Maggie very happy as she can envisage her garden blooming and colourful again.
5.30pm and I make tea, our usual light salad-based meal, whilst Maggie has phone call with her grandson.
After tea we settle in the lounge to watch the news on the television, relax and chat, occasionally putting the world to rights in response to some of the news items. Most of Maggie’s medication is taken in the evening, so we sort that out as well.
Maggie soon tires and we go upstairs for the evening personal care and ready for bed routine. By 8.30pm Maggie is in bed and soon falls asleep.
I love my job
I go to my room to relax and unwind, and have an early night myself.
I find this role, as a live-in carer, one of the most amazing and rewarding jobs that anyone could have.
I feel so privileged to share my life with such a lovely client, to hear her life story and to be there for her in her later years. Each day is like having a new best friend, and I love it!
If you’d like to find out more about our live-in home care services please give us a ring on 01256 840 660, email us at [email protected] or visit: Live-in Care in Basingstoke.