It is a daunting thought that you may be the very first live-in carer at a placement. The practicality of this is that it may be more complicated than you realize, particularly if your new client is coming back home after staying in a care home.

There are many reasons why your client might have been in a care home and often it is because they have had some type of surgery and are recovering. Hospitals do not like to send patients home unless they are able to cope with things like going up and down stairs, so they may be transferred to a care home to start rehab.

Once rehab is over and they can return home the question of ongoing care, and in particular, live-in care s addressed. And that’s where you come into the picture!

Most likely you will arrive at the home before your client arrives and possibly there will be family there to meet you.

Where do you start?

You would do well to bring a notebook with you. Don’t assume that there will be a spare notebook at the house or even a working pen. Bring your own. It will save time and be worth it in the long run.

Make notes

Listen to the family and make notes about whatever they can tell you about their loved one – what she likes to eat, what she will never eat, what time they think she gets up, anything about her character that you can find out. 

Ask questions

You will need to know things like who pays for the shopping and how is it done, when does the gardener come and who pays him, is there a cleaning lady and when does she come, how do you re-order prescriptions, who delivers or collects them, and who pays you and how often.

Find out

Where the gas cut off is in case of a gas leak, where the water shut off is and where the fuse box is situated. Make sure you know where the doctor’s surgery is located and how to get there.

Compile a list

Make a list of things that you will need to do. You do not have to do it all at once but have an idea of what will need to be done and tackle it one step at a time.

You may find that you need to go through food which has been in the house for months while your client has been recuperating. You will need to check what needs to be kept and what needs to be discarded.

Bring a diary

Again, you may be better just bringing your own diary rather than wait for family to buy one for you. They are inexpensive to buy and can be kept with your own record sheets.

Final thought

It is taxing being the first live-in carer at a placement and can very easily overwhelm you. Don’t be afraid to ask the family questions. 

Take things slowly especially when your new client returns home. Remember that they are possibly tired, stressed and extremely anxious about having a stranger in their home. 

Do as little as possible to ‘rock the boat’ and before long you and your new client will have settled into a comfortable routine.

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