What a Live-In Carer Can and Cannot Do
Live-in care provides personalised support in your own home, helping you maintain your independence, dignity and usual routines.
To make things clear, here is a simple guide to the types of support a live-in carer can and cannot provide. The exact duties will always depend on the individual's assessed needs, care plan, training and the arrangements agreed before care begins.
Personal care — support with washing, bathing, dressing, toileting, continence care and grooming.
Provide medical treatment outside their role — they cannot diagnose conditions, prescribe medication or make clinical decisions.
Medication support — remind, assist with or administer medication where appropriately trained, assessed and authorised.
Undertake tasks they are not trained or competent to perform — a carer should never be expected to carry out a task outside their training or agreed care plan.
Prepare meals and drinks — prepare food, encourage nutrition and hydration and support with eating and drinking where required.
Provide unlimited domestic cleaning — they are not a replacement for a professional cleaner and should not be expected to undertake heavy cleaning, decorating or household maintenance.
Shopping — help with grocery shopping and essential shopping related to the person's needs.
Carry out extensive work for the whole household — their role is primarily to support the person receiving care, not to become a general household worker.
Light household tasks — laundry, changing bed linen, washing up and keeping areas used by the client clean and tidy.
Provide childcare or care for other household members unless this has specifically been assessed and agreed as part of the care arrangement.
Companionship — spend time talking, socialising, reading, watching television, playing games or enjoying hobbies together.
Be available 24 hours a day without breaks — a live-in carer needs appropriate rest, breaks and private time.
Support with hobbies and activities — encourage interests and help the person continue doing the things they enjoy.
Act as an unlimited personal assistant — requests should remain within the agreed care and support arrangements.
Support with appointments — accompany the person to appropriate appointments and activities where agreed.
Provide unlimited driving — driving arrangements, including use of a carer's vehicle, must be agreed and appropriate insurance requirements met.
Support with mobility — assist with walking, transfers and mobility equipment where they have received the appropriate training and this is included in the care plan.
Carry out unsafe moving and handling — they must not undertake transfers or use equipment without appropriate training and an agreed plan.
Support independence — encourage the person to do as much as they can for themselves rather than taking over.
Make decisions on behalf of the client — a carer should support choice and independence rather than unnecessarily making decisions for the person.
Support with social activities — help the person stay connected with family, friends and their local community.
Prevent family involvement — live-in care should complement family relationships, not replace them.
Provide emotional support — offer reassurance, companionship and a familiar presence in the home.
Provide specialist clinical care without appropriate arrangements — additional professional or specialist input may be required for complex healthcare needs.
Provide intermittent night-time support where this is part of the agreed care package.
Be a waking-night carer automatically — if someone requires frequent or continuous support throughout the night, a different care arrangement may be required.
Support everyday routines — help maintain the person's preferred routines, lifestyle and independence.
Ignore changes in health or wellbeing — concerns should be reported and appropriate healthcare professionals contacted when necessary.
Support with finances in limited circumstances — assist with everyday shopping or small amounts of money where appropriately assessed and safeguarded.
Manage substantial finances — carers should not manage investments, bank accounts or significant financial affairs on behalf of a client.
Keep the person and their home safe — follow the care plan, risk assessments and relevant policies and procedures.
Take unnecessary risks — a carer must not be expected to undertake tasks that could place themselves or the client at unreasonable risk.
The Key Principle
A live-in carer is there to support, not take over.
The aim is to help the person remain as independent as possible while providing the assistance they need to live safely and comfortably at home.
Before care begins, we will agree the support required and ensure that the care plan clearly sets out the carer's responsibilities and boundaries.
What if your loved one has more complex needs?
Some people require additional support because of dementia, palliative care needs, significant mobility difficulties or multiple conditions.
Where specialist support is required, we will discuss this during the assessment and make sure that the proposed care arrangements are appropriate for the individual's needs and that carers have the necessary skills and experience.
Not sure what a live-in carer could do for your loved one?
Still have questions?
Talk to us about your circumstances and we'll explain how our introduction service works.