The eighth in our series, Q&A on Care with Wendy, where our Executive Director and Co-Owner Wendy Adlerstein, LSW, answers frequently asked questions about FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston services.
This week she explains how a Live-In works (or in some cases, does not work).
Q: What is a Live-In?
A: Generally, a Caregiver working a Live-In day must have access to a private bedroom, and be able to get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, so in many cases, with clients “up and about–maybe needing to go to the bathroom” throughout the night, the Live-In model will, unfortunately, not “work” and the hourly care with rotating 12 hour shifts for round-the-clock hourly care may be necessary.
A Live-In is priced as a Daily Rate which is attractive to those seeking care as it is considerably more cost-effective than round-the-clock or 24/7-type care. Once again, the needs and behaviors of the client will determine whether a Live-In is feasible. A free visit and assessment will give a good sense as to whether the Live-In model is possible (and answer one of the initial questions: is there a private, comfortable, place for a Caregiver to sleep?), but it sometimes happens that a Live-In will commence and circumstances will require a quick switch-over to hourly care.
Learn the differences between Personal Care, Companion Care, and Dementia Care. Or what is often called Respite Care which can involve elements of all three areas.
About Wendy: Wendy Adlerstein, LSW is an expert on aging and home care with over 25 years of experience helping seniors and their families navigate these difficult decisions. As Co-owner and Executive Director of FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston and Boston-Back Bay, she runs a business that provides private home care services that allow adults and seniors to receive the support they deserve in the comfortable, familiar setting of their own home. If you have a question for Wendy, please feel free to reach out to her at 781-559-0220 or by email at wadlerstein@firstlighthomecare.com.