Ask The Expert: What does live-in care mean? Do Caregivers move-in with the client?

Keith Shevlin Founder & President, Pinnacle Senior Home Care, Monthly Agency Guest Expert

What does live-in care mean? Do Caregivers move-in with the client?

Live-in care refers to care provided by a Caregiver who spends the night with the client, but is able to sleep during the night. Although the Caregiver’s sleep may need to be interrupted at night to assist with a possible bathroom visit or another need for the client, they are guaranteed adequate nightly sleep and down-time each evening. The Caregiver also prepares and shares in the meals with the client. The Caregiver does not actually “move-in” and live with the client. The Caregiver is typically given a designated amount of time off each week and month (i.e., one weekend each month or longer). Upon taking time off from their assignment, a replacement or “fill-in” live-in Caregiver is provided to cover the assignment until the primary Caregiver returns.

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Comments

Posted by: Lee — 09/08/2012

The situations offered as "live in" seem to vary considerably, so carefully check exactly what the arrangement on offer is. Sometimes "live in" means exactly that, one or more carers live full time with the client, with time off built into the schedule, perhaps with care responsibility alternating between the live-ins or covered by relief carers. Sometimes it means, for example, week on week off with the same client, or "living in" on a temporary basis with varying clients, so presumably the carer would be expected to have somewhere else to reside some of the time. Sometimes clients have no carers who actually "live in", but have a team of carers who work shifts, perhaps including "waking nights". I think true live-in positions on a permanent basis are fairly rare these days, but there are some around if you look for them, some with very nice arrangements indeed:)

Posted by: johnny — 07/01/2012

Do they have days off

Posted by: thomas theobald — 04/01/2011

do you hire cna out of state that has a cna certification has 1 yr experence.as nursing assitant. but resiprocity takes 4 weeks to get approved can I work as a cna until my resiprocity comes through

Posted by: sharna — 07/22/2010

Do you hire experienced caregivers from canada? I am interested in a live in position.

Posted by: Valerie — 01/05/2010

There are situations where people do actually move into the home of a client/patient, usually hired by family members; and there are situations where one may work seven days on and seven days off and this is generally called "live-In" If I may be so bold?

Posted by: monika — 09/01/2008

do you hire certified experienced care givers from canada? I am interested in a live in position.