Home Care FAQs

What is live-in care?

Live in care is as simple as it sounds. A fully-trained, professional carer lives with you in your own home to help you achieve a higher quality of life and this can involve:

➤ Providing help with specific tasks
➤ Providing companionship
➤ Enabling you to remain independent as much as possible
➤ Providing a sense of security


Live-in care support can be tailor made and match you with the right carer or team of carers that can offer:

➤ Assistance with bathing and dressing
➤ Cooking nutritious meals
➤ Medication reminders
➤ Companionship and outings
➤ Housekeeping and laundry
➤ Getting ready for bed
➤ Pet care

What services do live-in carers provide?

Most home carers are very flexible in terms of the services they provide and their duties can be tailored to specific needs. This is usually agreed at the outset but carers and care providers recognise that needs change so there is always room to be flexible.  Here are just some of the tasks that a dedicated carer would typically provide:

  • Buying food and other shopping
  • Preparing and cooking meals
  • Light housework
  • Laundry and ironing
  • Administering medication
  • Picking up prescriptions
  • Making doctor’s appointments
  • Driving you to appointments
  • Help washing and dressing
  • Getting to the toilet or continence help
  • Getting in and out of bed
  • Looking after a pet
  • Trips out and about
How does live-in care work?

The simple act of assisting an elderly individual out of bed and preparing their morning beverage can significantly impact the rest of their day, while the presence of a trained caregiver living under the same roof provides a sense of security and immediate support whenever needed. Our services include providing a fully trained live-in caregiver who will require their own comfortable single room.

How is live-in care different from home care?

A home care arrangement usually involves a carer popping in to see their clients once or twice a day, perhaps to help them get up and dressed in the morning, or to help them prepare dinner and bathe in the evening. Live-in care is different because carers move into the family home, so they’re available 24/7 for whatever kind of support their clients need.

Who is live-in care suitable for?

Live-in care is a great option for anyone who needs extra support to be able to continue living in their own home. This could be due to a condition like dementia or mobility issues that increase the risk of falling. We create individual care plans for all our clients, as no two people’s needs are exactly the same.

What happens if there is more than one person to care for?
Live-in care is especially cost effective when a couple living at home requires some support. Our live-in care for couples can also help relieve the burden of care from the more able partner who might be struggling to care for their partner. Kinship Crew offers a free assessment to all potential clients to assess your care needs. Our detailed care assessment will help you plan for dealing with practical issues effectively and wherever possible, introduce new ideas that could quite simply make life better for everyone involved.
Is live-in care only for older people?

Although most of our clients are elderly people, we also help adults with physical and mental disabilities and have specialist carers that can provide care to high-dependency clients. We care for clients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, a learning disability and mental illness.

How do you match clients with carers?

We arrange a face-to-face meeting with all new clients before we start looking for their carer. Once we have a good understanding of your needs, interests and hobbies, we’ll look for a carer who has the right skills and personality for you.

Over the years we have developed a proprietary personality test which is administered on all caregivers. After our careful matching process, we arrange a face-to-face meeting between the recommended caregiver and you. A match is not made unless both the caregiver and you are happy.

Will my live in carer be with me 24/7?

How much time you spend with your carer is completely up to you. You might enjoy watching your favorite TV programs together or reminiscing over a cup of tea, but if you prefer your own space, your carer will respect that. It’s your home and your care and you know what works best for you.

Will a live-in carer accompany me on trips?

If you have appointments or social outings planned, your live-in carer will be able to help you get to them safely and can enjoy them with you if that’s what you’d like. You may find that you’re keen to do more outside the home with the peace of mind that live-in care provides.

What happens if I don’t like my carer?

We do our best to match our clients and carers based on interests and personality and arrange a meeting before they move in, so it’s highly unlikely that you won’t get on. If you do have any problems, though, just give us a call and we’ll be able to arrange a replacement.

What hours can I expect the caregiver to work?

With “live in” caregiving, there is generally a main caregiver who works between 5 and 6 days each week, providing 24-hour care during this time. The caregiver is given an 8-hour period to sleep at night. Although his / her sleep may be disrupted to provide care throughout the night.

In addition, the caregiver is given a 4-hour break during daytime hours. During this break, another caregiver may or may not be requested in-order to cover for the primary caregiver, depending on the care recipient, his / her needs, and the decision of the family. An alternative caregiver can be arranged to work on the days the primary caregiver is off.

    Is there an additional charge for evening or weekend services?

    Live in care is an all-inclusive set price per week. You will not have additional charges for unsociable hours as your carer lives with you and is available to attend as needed, with necessary breaks included! However, bank holiday charges may apply

      Can you provide private-duty home care services in other places than a residential home?

      Yes. Our flexible service can offer live-in care in retirement communities, assisted living facilities and hospitals.

        How do you monitor what the carers are doing in the home?

        Kinship Crew’s senior management team perform regular spot checks and supervision of carers to ensure outstanding quality care. We survey our clients annually and work in cooperation with families to ensure our quality of care remains exceptional. Carer’s daily notes are electronically recorded and can be reviewed daily.

          What should I be expected to provide to the caregiver?

          We require that each client provide their caregiver with a private room which will allow for a comfortable place to sleep and a place to put their things.

          Clients are expected to provide the caregiver with all meals and beverages. Meals may be eaten together with the client or separately during the caregiver’s downtime or break. 

          Clients are also expected to pay any costs associated with out-of-home activities or travel.

          How do I set up live-in care?

          Setting up live-in care begins with a care assessment so we can get to know your needs. Give us a call on (877) 350-0500 to get started.