Lodger with Care Work Attached

Elderly person is looking for a lodger who, in return for low rent, can give some time to general home maintenance. We would also like to find someone who can help with paid care on top of the basic homesharing/lodging arrangement (see below)

OVERVIEW

We (Patricia’s niece and husband) are looking for someone to lodge with Patricia and her dog, Millie, in her beautiful home in Stoneygate (Leicester). We want to find someone who can also provide paid evening care support, as Patricia has Alzheimer’s. Care work will be paid, so you will likely have a net income (after homeshare payment and bills) from living at the property. We live locally and we frequently visit Patricia and take her out, so you are able to have time off by arrangement. We want to create a happy environment for everyone.

THE HOUSE

Patricia’s home is a beautiful, Victorian detached house with a landscaped garden and a conservatory as well as a living room, bedroom and kitchen / utility (council tax band G). Patricia lives exclusively on the ground floor. The homesharer has a double bedroom with en-suite and access to a separate living space upstairs. There is also another bedroom suite upstairs where Patricia stores her belongings and this can be used by family or guests. The homesharer would have access to their own under-counter fridge in the kitchen and some freezer space. There is parking space at the property if needed.

HOMESHARE ARRANGEMENT

In return for the low rent, we expect you to contribute to the household in a ‘homeshare’ type arrangement (google 'homeshare' for information on how this can work).

We can tailor the homeshare part of the agreement to your preferences. However, ideally, you would do the following as part of the basic homeshare:

General housekeeping tasks e. g. cleaning, putting the bins out, keeping tidy, watering the plants etc.

Communicate with family.

Simple gardening tasks e. g. mowing the lawn, watering the pots

Dog care including feeding, letting out in the garden, and some walking.

BOLT ON CARE (PAID)

We are looking for someone who can combine the homeshare with some paid bolt-on care.

Patricia has Alzheimer’s, so she needs someone who is able to combine empathy with confident communication. By nature, she is an independent and highly intelligent woman; with Alzheimer’s this translates to repetition, confusion and sometimes irritability when she is unable to do things herself. However, she responds very positively to people who treat her respectfully, make light and fun conversation, and have an assured, competent manner.

Specifically, care tasks would involve:

An hour at teatime (5.30-6.30 ish) making a light tea and having a chat, reading to her, or similar.

Being around during the evening to deal with problems e. g. with the TV or some other issue arising (you would not need to be actively supervising during this time; you could be upstairs)

Bedtime care (approx 30-40mins at around 8.30/9pm) including prompting to get washed and changed (some help may be required), light support with washing

Being willing to intervene during the night if Patricia needs help (currently this is only occasional)

If you are looking for more full-time care work, we are happy to discuss how that might work.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND LIVE-IN CARE?

The difference between this arrangement and professional live-in care is that you would make this your home, and have a more normal life with work times and time off. This offers a more balanced routine and we can discuss what works for you. (Live-in carers would typically work intensively for blocks of time while being based elsewhere.) We are also happy to be flexible about your experience, and you do not necessarily need professional care qualifications (though you would need to be able to clearly demonstrate your ability to undertake care work for an elderly person).

ABOUT THE HOMESHARER

Dementia care experience would be preferable but we would consider someone who can demonstrate the right skills and attitude from other life experience. We are willing to consider people from various backgrounds including a mature person or a post-grad student, with experience of looking after a parent or grandparent.

The following are essential:

Excellent English language skills (vocabulary, idioms, and clear speech): Patricia is an educated person with a wide vocabulary and love of language. She values people who can interact with curiosity and playfulness and can talk in an interesting way.

Empathy and body language reading skills: Patricia does not always say what she means! Sometimes she uses the wrong word; sometimes her brain has concocted a story or situation that didn’t happen. Often this happens when she is feeling confused and trying to mask her own problems. You have to be able to read the situation rather than just listening to the literal words. How is she feeling? What’s needed? How can you diffuse any issues that are brewing? (sometimes just a kind 5 minute conversation is all that’s needed)

Friendly and positive attitude: Patricia responds really well to just feeling safe in positive, friendly relationships - as we all do, but all the more important when you are feeling confused and vulnerable.

Resilient: Patricia often either sings around the house or vocalises her irritation, so you need to be ok with this, and sometimes just head upstairs and do something else if it is bothering you. Fortunately, you have a nice bedroom, and access to a living space upstairs. Patricia does not use the upstairs at all.

Organised and reliable: As a family, we have created some good routines and background support for Tricia, and we are looking for someone who will follow these established patterns so that things run as smoothly as possible.

Able to communicate in a clear and mature way with family and other care staff coming into the house

Comfortable with cameras downstairs: this just enables us to check on Patricia’s welling; we do not spend a lot of time viewing cameras as we have plenty of other things to do!

Experienced at simple cooking including fried / oven-cooked meat & fish.

Clean DBS check and references

Preferable:
Understanding and supportive of Christian faith practices (e. g. bible reading, singing or listening to hymns)