Winter is coming. For older people and the families who love them, that’s a source of concern. It is something Tom Quinlan, founder of Affordable Live-in Homecare (ALHomecare) hears time and again.
“Winter is the toughest time of the year for older people. The weather is more challenging, the nights are long and it is sometimes more difficult for a family to get over and visit,” he says.
It’s why live-in care is ideal.
“Knowing that there is somebody there at night gives great comfort and reassurance. And, during the daytime a live-in carer provides company, moral support and practical help,” he says.
Having a live-in carer can help an older person keep good routines. “They’re making sure that their client has fresh, nutritious food every day, are keeping their fluids up, and are taking their medication at the right time,” he explains.
They help the client stay active. “It’s someone who can encourage and motivate them and say, come on let’s have a cup of tea, or go for a little walk, or listen to that music you like,” he adds. “Having someone there to keep your spirits up is massively important when you’re by yourself and the weather’s not so good and you’re facing another long night alone, a sad prospect for a lot of older people in winter.”
First-hand experience
Most older people want to stay in their own homes, surrounded by memories and familiarity. But when the time comes that they need additional help, in terms of solutions, the two best known are nursing homes or private visiting care services.
“But nursing homes can be expensive,” says Tom, “putting a lot of financial strain on a family on an ongoing basis. And with the visiting care option, you may not always have the same carer coming every time, which can cause confusion and anxiety for the older person.”
He knows this from experience and it’s why he set up Affordable Live-in Homecare in the first place. In 2013 Tom was working as a primary schoolteacher and trying to organise homecare for his mother, Ann, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Her condition had progressed to a stage where she was admitted to intensive care. After some time, she recovered enough to be discharged and the discharge coordinator gave Tom and his family a choice between a nursing home and a visiting care service.
However, Tom’s parents had only recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and did not want to consider a nursing home. Though he contacted many visiting care services, the cost was way beyond what the family could afford. So, he contacted a friend in Poland and asked her if she could help him to find a person who would come over to Ireland and live with his parents to help with the care of his mother.
“A lovely lady called Lena came over in October 2013 and took care of Mam until she passed away, at home, in April 2014,” says Tom.
Being able to keep his mother at home until the very end was something he will always be grateful for.
As a result of this experience, Tom realised there must be many other families out there in a similar situation. He set up ALHomecare to help. In the nearly 11 years since he established it, he has made more than 1,000 placements and currently has 320 live-in carers in homes across the country.
Ensuring the client – and their family – is happy with each carer has been central to the company’s success. All of ALHomecare’s placements start with a three-week trial period, to ensure the best possible match is made.
Prices start from €568 a week, with accommodation and food for the carer, which is less than people might think. What makes it even more affordable is that the family can get up to 40 per cent back in tax relief if their relative is incapacitated, by filling out a HK1 form from Revenue.
On top of that, ALHomecare charges €1,895, including VAT, for the initial placement. “And if the family is not happy with the carer we’ve supplied during the trial period, we’ll refund the placement fee or give them a free replacement carer,” he explains.
It’s not just for older people living alone. Live-in care can also help keep older couples together.
“In some cases, one person might need to go into a nursing home for one reason or another and the other person is then left at home by themselves. But in a lot of cases, we’re actually able to keep the couple together at home, like we did with my own parents, which is fantastic for them,” says Tom.
Maintaining independence
Sometimes the older person is reluctant because they think having a live-in carer is about taking their independence away. It’s not, he adds, it’s about helping people to maintain their independence at home.
“It’s someone to make sure the doors are locked, and the windows are closed at night, and to prepare meals. It’s the comfort of knowing that if an emergency should occur, there is someone there to contact family immediately,” says Tom.
And unlike rotating home care, it is consistent. “Older people desperately want that stability. They want to have the same person they can get to know and feel comfortable with. It is someone who knows them well, who knows what their favourite meals are, the TV shows they like, the jacket they prefer, all those kind of things,” adds Tom.
Most of all it’s about making sure the person feels secure and comfortable at home. “In winter the weather can be bad, with snow and ice that can stop the family from getting up to them. Having a live-in carer is weatherproof care,” he adds.
Eventually, we will all need care, he points out. “There are very few people out there who would say, look, when it comes towards the end of my life, I want to be in a nursing home. Most people would say I want to be at home,” says Tom. “If you can do that at an affordable cost, with an open-ended contract, and a three-week trial period, why wouldn’t you give it a go and see if it works? Because in 90 per cent of cases, it does.”
To find out more about this live-in homecare service, visit alhomecare.ie or phone the family inquiry line on 087 744 0729. ALHomecare provides a nationwide service