Couples
Live in care for couples
A care home place for one person can separate a couple after a lifetime together. Live in care is often the way both people stay in the home they made.
- Doctor led. A doctor carries out your initial assessment
- CQC registered for personal care
- A small family run team, with a manager you can name
- Live in care across England. Turkish spoken
Keeping a household together
Often only one partner has significant care needs. The other is managing, but tired, and worried about what happens if they cannot cope. A live in carer provides the personal care one person needs and takes the strain off the other, so that they can be a husband or wife again rather than a full time carer.
Sometimes both people need help. Then we match a carer who can support a whole household, and the care plan covers each person separately.
What we pay attention to when matching for a couple
- Who still does which jobs in the house, and what each person wants to keep doing
- Sleeping arrangements and night time needs
- Whether the partner with fewer needs wants company or space
- How children, grandchildren and friends use the home
- A carer who is discreet, and not a third person in the marriage
What couples' live in care costs
One carer supporting a couple is usually considerably less than two care home fees. The exact fee depends on both people's needs and is quoted after assessment. See our costs page for what affects the fee and how families fund it.
How care for a couple is arranged
Talk to us
A free 15 to 20 minute conversation with a manager, by telephone or video, about the person, the home and what has become difficult. We will tell you whether live in care is likely to suit, roughly what it costs, and whether we can provide it. There is no obligation, and no doctor travel at this stage.
Doctor led assessment
Once you are ready to go ahead, a doctor from our team assesses the person, by video where clinically appropriate or at home, and we write the care plan with you. The assessment is charged separately. If you start a long term live in care package, the fee is credited against the first month.
Meet your carer
We introduce the carer we have matched to the person and the household. Care begins on an agreed date, with a manager available throughout.
Questions about care for couples
Can couples have live in care?
Yes. One carer can often support a couple where one person has most of the care needs. If both need substantial hands on help, we may recommend additional hours or a second carer. The assessment decides it, and couples are quoted after assessment.
What room does a live in carer need?
A private bedroom with a bed and somewhere to store clothes, use of a bathroom, and access to the kitchen. Wi-Fi is appreciated. The household provides the carer's food.
Is live in care cheaper than a care home?
For one person it is often in a similar range to a good care home, and it is one to one rather than shared. For a couple it is usually considerably less than two care home places. Compare a written quote from us with the fees of a specific home rather than two headline figures.
Who pays for live in care?
Families fund their care privately. Many use a combination of savings, pensions, property income and Attendance Allowance, which is not means tested. NHS Continuing Healthcare can fund care at home for people whose eligibility is confirmed by the NHS. We do not hold local authority or NHS contracts.
Talk to Clinique Alpa
Speak to a manager about live in care
Call 020 8882 8088 or 07777 594448. You will speak to a manager, not a call centre. We will talk through the situation, tell you whether live in care is likely to be right, and explain what an assessment involves.
Live in care from Clinique Alpa is provided by Alpa Care Ltd, registered with the Care Quality Commission for personal care, provider ID 1-9691685023.