Live in End-of-Life and Palliative Care
When we start to come to the end of our lives, whether through old age or a life-limiting illness, being cared for in your own home can make those last few weeks and days as comforting as possible for both the person passing away and their family. At VersaCare our end-of-life care allows you to remain in your own home while being cared for in a comforting and dignified way by our live-in care professionals. Talk to one of our end-of-life live-in care experts today.
What does our palliative care include?
Supporting the family
Our carers will work closely with the office team to offer support to the whole family, not just those being cared for. They take care of everything for you, including domestic tasks and liaising with GPs, community nurses and hospice teams as well as other key care professionals, taking away stress at this difficult time and allowing you to focus on being there for your loved one.
Ensuring safe mobility in and around the home
While you or your loved one might be reaching the last few months in their life it doesn’t mean they have to be confined to their bed. Your carer will help you get around in and around your house as well as short trips out of the house.
Dedicated support for medical conditions
We provide extensive, ongoing training to all of our carers to help them support people with a range of life-limiting illnesses such as advanced cancer, motor neurone disease, advanced heart disease and neurological diseases such as Parkinsons. We train carers in the use of medications, providing comfort and support and ensuring a dignified death. We will also continue to offer our comprehensive, and very cost effective , live in service to support your wishes to remain at home.
Companionship as and when you need it
The unknown of coming to the end of your life can leave you or your loved one feeling scared, alone and isolated. With a live-in carer you always have someone on hand to talk to, share your feelings with and comfort you.
Providing discreet and sensitive personal care
During such a delicate time, maintaining dignity and privacy is paramount. Our carers provide personal care with the utmost respect, ensuring that every need is met with sensitivity and compassion. From assisting with bathing and dressing to managing toileting needs, our carers are there to support you in a way that feels comfortable and unintrusive, always respecting your boundaries and personal wishes.
Planning and cooking meals
As the body begins to slow down it’s very common to experience a reduced desire to eat or drink. Your carer will listen to your wants and needs which can involve enjoying your favourite meals, frequent smaller meals or easy-to-digest foods. Your carer will always listen to you and your needs and won’t pressure you to eat or drink if you’re not feeling up to it. When this time comes they will offer comfort over nutrition.
Facilitating social arrangements in the home
As a family member or close friend of someone who is passing you want to be there for them as much as possible but they might not have the energy and need time to rest. Having a live-in carer gives you a quick point of contact to check in and see whether you can pop round for a visit. It also helps the person being cared for arrange for friends and family to come and visit as your live-in carer can organise this for you.
Trips and visits out of the home
In the last few months of your life you may well be strong enough to take short trips out of the house, such as going to the park, beach or a trip to the local cinema. Your live-in carer will happily take you to visit your favourite places and carry out the activities you enjoy for as long as you’re well enough to.
Domestic tasks
Your carer will carry out all of your domestic tasks so you can rest and enjoy your last few months and weeks without dealing with everyday tasks such as cleaning, washing up, cooking and shopping.
Why choose VersaCare?
During this difficult time, it can be challenging to assess all of the options available to you and figure out what’s right for you or your loved one. Choosing live-in care, and VersaCare as your live-in care provider provides numerous benefits to both those being cared for as well as their families. These include:
- Versacare has been in business for 18 years, is registered with many Local Authorities and NHS Trusts, and has always had good CQC reviews. As a private company, we can keep our rates much lower than large franchised businesses, and residential Care homes, making Live-in care a very viable option for clients who wish to remain at home. This option can offer the most personalised care, ensuring that your final weeks or months are spent in familiar surroundings, with a focus on dignity, comfort, and peace.
- At VersaCare we make sure that we match you with the best carer for you, this includes their training on managing specific illnesses as well as their personality and interests. Being cared for by someone you can share a bond with helps to bring comfort during this difficult period.
- Our carers have received extensive, ongoing training on managing a range of illnesses as well as dealing with the emotional side of this difficult time. They not only help support the person being cared for but can also bring comfort to friends and family.
- We have in-house, clinical experts who are always on hand to provide expert advice to our carers. This ensures a dignified death without pain.
- We know how challenging and emotional the last few weeks and months can be so we provide a fully managed service to take the pressure off both the person being cared for as well as the family. We can guide you through a range of funding options at the start of the care and when the cared-for person has passed away we can notify their GP and contact their preferred funeral director if this has been agreed on before their passing.
- While our Registered office is based in Coulsdon, Surrey we have local care teams and area managers spread across England. This allows us to keep our rates as low as possible.
- We conduct a full care assessment before your care starts including your medical needs and personal preferences. This ensures that not only are your medical needs met, but your personal preferences are also taken into account.
- We can generally arrange an assessment within 48 hours and in an emergency, assess and start live-in care within 24 hours.
There are many benefits to choosing VersaCare but we know during this time you may prefer to talk to one of our team. Our team is on hand to talk you through our service, as well as the other options out there to ensure that you choose the best service for your needs, whether that’s live-in care or not.
How to arrange end-of-life care
We make arranging live in end-of-life care as easy as possible as we know this can be an emotionally challenging time. The first step is to get in contact with our compassionate care team who will answer any questions you might have surrounding end-of-life care.
If you decide to move forward then we will ask a few questions about your needs as well as any personal preferences. We will then find a carer who can meet your needs and preferences. This process can range from 2 to 5 days however we can provide you with a temporary carer in as little as 24 hours before transitioning to a better match for you.
Arranging funding for live-in end-of-life care
Funding for live-in end-of-life care can come from various sources, depending on your circumstances and the level of care needed. Some individuals may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which provides funding for care needs due to a primary health condition. Others might receive support through local authority funding, which can be means-tested based on your financial situation.
It’s essential to explore all the options available to you. Our team can help guide you through the process, offering advice on what funding might be accessible, assisting with applications, and helping you understand the costs involved.
We’re here to ensure that financial concerns don’t add to the emotional challenges of arranging care. Whether you need help navigating government funding options or exploring private arrangements, we’ll support you every step of the way.
FAQs
Palliative care can begin at any stage of a life-limiting illness, not just in the final weeks or months. It’s focused on managing symptoms and providing comfort, so the earlier it’s introduced, the more support you can receive.
If you or your loved one is experiencing ongoing pain, emotional distress, or difficulty managing day-to-day activities, it may be time to consider palliative care. It’s about improving quality of life and ensuring you have the help you need, when you need it.
We understand how important it is to get care in place quickly, especially when dealing with a progressive illness. Palliative care can often be arranged within a few days, depending on your location and specific needs.
Our team will work closely with you to ensure a smooth and swift transition, offering peace of mind that everything is being taken care of promptly and professionally.
End-of-life care can take place in a variety of settings depending on your wishes and medical needs. You might choose to receive care at home, in a hospice, or in a nursing home. Live-in end-of-life care allows you or your loved one to stay in the comfort of your own home, with a dedicated carer providing round-the-clock support.