Emily lives at home with support from her live-in care worker, Mary, and her mum, Dawn. She has a form of cerebral palsy called Spastic Quadriplegia, which affects her limbs, her trunk, and her face, meaning she requires assistance with all her daily needs.
For Emily and her family, live-in care has transformed everyday life. With Mary living in the home, Emily can take part in the activities she loves, maintain her routines, and enjoy greater independence, while Dawn is able to focus on being a mum, have time for herself, and pursue her career.
Last month, we visited Emily at home to hear about her experience and film a video sharing her story.
The Challenge of Full-Time Care
Before receiving live-in care, Emily attended college, and Dawn provided most of her care with the help of self-employed carers. However, when Emily finished college, what would normally be a happy milestone presented new challenges for the family. Dawn faced a difficult decision: should Emily move into residential care, or continue receiving care at home?
Providing 24-hour care at home was becoming increasingly difficult for Dawn as Emily grew older. She had already reduced her working hours and was seeking more personal time to live her own life outside of full-time caring.
At the same time, it was incredibly important to the family that Emily could remain at home, surrounded by the people she loves, involved in daily routines, and able to enjoy life in her own way.
A Transformative Change
Dawn first heard about live-in care from a friend. From the initial consultation with Agincare’s care advisors, she was supported through every step of the process. A personalised care plan was developed for Emily, and the Agincare team ensured a smooth transition by carefully introducing Mary, Emily’s live-in care worker, answering any questions the family had, and taking the time to get to know Emily’s hobbies, interests, and daily routines. The plan was tailored to Emily’s specific needs and preferences, giving Dawn reassurance that her daughter would receive consistent, compassionate care in the comfort of her own home.
The change has been transformative for the whole family. Dawn said, “It’s made a massive difference because we’ve always got someone there to talk to about Emily’s concerns, so you’re not on your own with the care.”
With Mary’s support as her live-in care worker, Emily can now enjoy life to the fullest and participate in the activities she loves, including cooking, arts and crafts, bingo, cinema visits, and walking her dog.
With the expert guidance of Agincare’s Clinical Lead, Cher Goodyer-El Meheiry, Mary has also completed extensive complex care training. This specialist training allows Emily’s care to be managed confidently at home, reducing the need for external nursing teams and ensuring continuity of care from someone she knows and trusts.
Over the past two years, Mary has also built a deep understanding of Emily’s preferences, personality, and the small details that make a big difference every day.
A New Family Life
Live-in care has also given Emily more independence from Dawn, enabling her to focus on her work teaching music and have a life outside of being solely a carer. Dawn can now be Emily’s mum first, while knowing her daughter has the support needed to live life to the fullest. She has been able to get more sleep, go on holiday with her other children, and spend more quality time with her family.
Dawn describes Mary as “like having another daughter being part of the family,” noting that, being a similar age to Emily, she provides Emily with the experience of having a sister. Mary herself explains, “I don’t see her as a client, I see her more like my little sister.” The relationship between Emily and Mary demonstrates the depth of care and trust that live-in care can provide. Mary is not just a care worker; she is an integral part of the family, living at home with Emily and Dawn, and providing support that goes far beyond practical assistance.
Why Live-In Care Works
Live-in care is about more than practical support. It creates independence, choice, and companionship every day. Having a trained, caring professional living in the home ensures that service users can enjoy their favourite activities, maintain routines, and fully participate in family life, while relatives can focus on being family first.
Live-in care provides continuity and reassurance. There is always someone present to respond to needs, offer emotional support, and celebrate achievements.
Discover Live-In Care
If you are considering live-in care for yourself or a loved one, or want to learn more about how it works, Agincare’s website provides detailed information on how services can support independence, wellbeing, and everyday life at home.
Expert care advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions, guide families through the available live-in care options, explain funding and the assessment process, and arrange a visit or assessment so that families can see firsthand how live-in care can make a real difference.