How can a Live-in Carer support someone who is End of Life or requiring Palliative Care?
Most people who require Palliative Care or who are End of Life would choose to live at home. Familiar surroundings are comforting and there is often a support network of friends and family locally. With full-time Live-in care support, you are provided with 24-hour care focused on your individual needs. Your Live-in Carer will ensure your symptoms are well managed. They will tailor the service to care for you holistically so that your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met.
Symptoms of Palliative and End of Life conditions can include cognitive difficulties, fatigue, pain, and bowel and bladder problems. All of these can be safely managed in your home with the expert support of a Live-in carer. You will have a team of medical professionals involved in your care. They will give guidance and support to you and your Carer about managing your symptoms.
An Occupational Therapist can assess you and your home for any equipment needed for your personalised care. This will ensure your home is suitable for your needs and your Live-in carer can support you safely. Your Live-in carer will be experienced with all types of mobility aids and equipment. They will help you adjust to any new requirements.
Just some of the help a Live-in Carer can offer:
Support with personal care
- At times and in ways that you choose. This might include bathing, showering, dressing, and undressing and general support with your personal appearance. At later stages of your life, your Live-in Carer will adjust how they support you and care for you in bed. They will ensure you are comfortable, take good care of your skin and support you with mouth care. Your Live-in Carer will listen to your preferences and how you like things to be done and help accordingly.
Support with continence
- Accessing the bathroom, using the loo, incontinence products or more complex support such as catheter and stoma care where required. Having a Palliative condition can come with a wide range of different problems relating to your bladder & bowels. We introduce Live-in Carers who have the right experience & training who know exactly how to help you. They will also be able to monitor and track any changes. Your Live-in Carer can support you to report any changes back to your GP or Palliative Nurse.
Support with mobility
- Your illness is likely to affect your body in many ways. You may find it hard to move around easily. Our experienced Live-in Carers are there to help you in any way they can. That might be helping you transfer, hoisting or just being there to help give you confidence. As your condition progresses, your Carer will support you to move or turn you in bed to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. Knowing your Live-in Carer is there if you should fall or have an accident can help with worry. It will also give you and your family reassurance and peace of mind.
Assisting with medication
– Your Live-in Carer will be fully trained in the safe administration of medication. They will be happy to support you with ordering and collecting prescriptions. They can gently prompt if needed when medication is due and can support you with pain management. Your Live-in Carer can help you liaise with your GP or Palliative Nurse if any changes are needed.
Domestic Duties
- The day-to-day running of the home, including hoovering, dusting, other light housework, laundry, and shopping. Some of our Live-in Carers also love gardening. They can also help you keep your bird feeders topped up. When you are unable to leave your bed, your Live-in Carer will ensure your room is a peaceful haven. A sanctuary where you will feel safe and comfortable.
Preparing and Cooking Meals
– Prepared to your likes using fresh ingredients, ensuring you are provided with a nutritious and balanced diet. Our fully trained Live-in Carers will also accommodate any special dietary requirements, including a soft diet. Towards the end of your life, your sense of smell and taste may be affected. This can lead to loss of appetite and subsequent loss of enjoyment in eating. Your Live-in Carer will prepare meals that are interesting, palatable, and tempting and to suit your appetite. They will sensitively help you with eating and go at your pace. If you are feeling sick or have a sore mouth your Carer will be able to liaise with your GP.
Companionship
– Chatting, watching TV, listening to music together or just sitting quietly together. A lot of our Live-in Carers stay with their clients for a long time and become friends. Having companionship is a vital part of maintaining emotional stability.
Pet Care
– Our Live-in carers will enjoy helping you take care of your beloved pets. That may include walking them, feeding them and arranging or supporting with vet visits when needed. Pets can be amazing way of calming anxiety and reducing stress levels associated with many conditions. When you are receiving Palliative Care or are at End of Life your pets will be well cared for too.
Support to arrange & attend activities in and out of the home
- Visits to friends and family or attending places of interest to you when you are able. A Live-in carer will facilitate and welcome your loved ones to visit you at home. When you can no longer leave your home, your Carer will coordinate visits from friends and family. They will sensitively manage your needs and the expectations of your visitors.
Support with your physical and mental health
– Your Live-in Carer will be happy to work as part of the team of professionals involved in your Palliative Care. They will support and accompany you to GP and hospital appointments as needed. An experienced Live-in Carer will understand the emotional impact of being at this stage in your life. They will be sensitive to your needs and understand the challenges you face.
Support with cognitive difficulties
– Your Carer can help if are suffering cognitive problems because of being at End of Life. If you are struggling to think clearly, they will help you remember things and prompt you when you need help. You may also have trouble communicating and getting stuck on words. Your Live-in Carer can help you speak to your family, friends & professionals when you need assistance. They are also there to help understand and process important information, for example instructions from your doctor.
Finding the Perfect Carer for someone who is End of Life or Requires Palliative Care
At Access Care we pride ourselves on being a Live-in care recruitment agency who really care. We want to make a great match of Carer for all our clients. We know how much our Live-in Carers support and enhance the quality of life of our clients. Furthermore, it’s a pleasure to help make that happen.
We have been introducing professionally trained Live-in Carers to care for people who require Palliative Care at home for over 25 years. They are happy to continue supporting their clients through to the end of their life. Many of our carers have a wealth of experience in this field of care. They will do their very best to make your last weeks, days, and hours the very best they can be. Our Live-in Carers will also support your loved ones at this difficult time.
We will listen to your wishes and needs. We will talk to you to get to know you so we can try to find you a Live-in Carer with common interests and beliefs. This is in addition to the necessary care qualifications, skills, and experience.
For our clients who require Palliative/End of Life care, we introduce Carers who ideally have advanced experience in this area. They will have the understanding and insight into this stage of life and the practical skills to support you. Our job is to present you with possible Live-in Carers to choose from. Your job is to choose one!
End of Life/Palliative Care Resources you may find useful
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. They provide frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a good range of information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement.