Day in the life of a Live-in Carer

“As a live-in carer with over 10 years of experience in the care sector, I would like to share some of my experiences. I have worked in both domiciliary and live-in care, and I believe both come with their own set of challenges. However, the role of a live-in carer places the sole focus on the client’s needs. When I started living in someone’s home, I realised the significant impact I could have on their life. It is a demanding and challenging role, carrying a huge responsibility, but it is also incredibly rewarding and, in some cases, adventurous.

One of the most crucial aspects is matching the client with the right carer. When this is done correctly, it is the first step to success. Over the years, I have met many clients, some of whom were quite demanding or difficult. However, each person I have met has taught me something new about aging.

One particular client I met was Mr W, a 93-year-old based in Surrey. He spent most of his life in London, working in the publishing industry. After a hospital visit, Mr W lost the ability to walk and ended up in a wheelchair. He has always been very active and has a strong connection with his family and friends, who visit him often. We started going for walks by the canal and around the village, and Mr W shared many stories about his life in London, expressing his love for the city.

One day, I asked him if he would like to visit London again, and he was delighted! After consulting with the office and his family, we got the green light, and that’s how our adventure began. Now, we regularly travel to different destinations, and seeing him happy is the most rewarding part of my role. With a little effort, such as pushing his wheelchair to the train, I could change his life from being stuck at home to making the most of what he can do at this stage. I know how much it means to him to meet his son for lunch in London or have a pint with his grandson. Seeing this makes me feel that what I do makes a difference.

Mr W always enjoyed the company of others, so one day, he arranged a meeting with his 94-year-old friend and his wife, who live in Gosport. After the morning visit from the second carer, getting ready, choosing the right outfit for the day, and having coffee and morning read with his neighbour, we headed to the train station. We were greeted by a lady who knows us well and helped us to assist him to the train. At the first station where we had to change, we got stuck on the platform due to a broken lift, but a station guard managed to change the platform for the train, causing chaos as all the people had to change platforms. This made him laugh. When we arrived at Portsmouth, we took the ferry to Gosport. Mr W’s friends were already waiting for him on the other side of the harbour. They hadn’t seen each other for years! They spent an amazing afternoon recalling memories and looking at old photos. He couldn’t thank me enough when we got back home.

Moments like this make me realise how much we, as carers, can do to make someone’s last years of life filled with good memories and adventures, and give them some kind of normalcy in their lives. Personally, as someone who can’t sit still, it’s an amazing experience to meet someone’s friends, listen to their stories, and visit places like galleries in London where I wouldn’t go myself. I believe in treating the clients the way we would like to be treated when we get old.”

If you know someone who would benefit from Live-in Care and would like to discuss the services we provide, give us a call today on 01483 488222. For more information about our Live-in Care services, please click the link.