Live-in Care in Barkingside, IG6

Yes, we provide live-in care in Barkingside and the rest of IG6. A carer moves into the spare room and helps your relative with washing, meals, medicines and getting about, living to their timetable. We start with a free assessment at the house and agree a written care plan before anyone moves in.

What a Barkingside semi offers a live-in carer

Most homes here are interwar semis and terraces. A three-bedroom semi usually has what a live-in carer needs: a second bedroom for them and a third that the family can keep for visits. In practice that third room is often a box room full of decades of belongings, so clearing it is the first job. The carer's room needs a proper bed, somewhere to keep their things and privacy.

The newer flats around the High Street are a different story. If your relative has one bedroom, live-in care cannot work there, and we will tell you so at the assessment. The alternatives are visiting care in Barkingside, which depends on carer availability this far from Lewisham, or your relative staying with family who do have a spare room.

Kosher kitchens, Shabbat and the daily routine

Barkingside has long been one of the centres of east London's Jewish community. If your relative keeps a kosher kitchen, observes Shabbat or goes to synagogue, tell us at the assessment. Separate utensils, what can and cannot be cooked on a Saturday, and getting to services are all things a carer can follow once they are written into the care plan. The same applies to any faith or food practice: the routine belongs to your relative, and the carer works to it. We cannot promise a carer of a particular faith, but we can promise to brief them properly.

Changeovers on the Hainault loop

Carers usually come and go through Barkingside station on the Central line, between Newbury Park and Fairlop. The station has step-free access on the eastbound side only. A carer arriving from Stratford or central London with a suitcase is travelling eastbound and can manage it; the outgoing carer heading back west has stairs to deal with, so allow a little extra time. By bus, the 128 and 462 run along the High Street, and the 150, 167 and 275 stop at Fullwell Cross.

The outgoing carer stays until the new one has arrived and gone through the care plan, the medicines record and any changes from the past few weeks. If the incoming carer drives and your street is in a parking zone, buy visitor permits from the council in advance, because they are posted out.

After a stay in King George Hospital

Barkingside patients are usually admitted to King George Hospital in Goodmayes. A discharge home with a live-in carer goes most smoothly when the ward knows the plan early, the spare room is ready, and any equipment the hospital is sending home has been agreed. Ask us to assess while your relative is still on the ward. See our hospital discharge support.

If memory is the worry, the GP can refer to the NHS Redbridge Memory Service in Newbury Park, one stop along the Central line, and the live-in carer can go with your relative to appointments. Our dementia care page explains how we support people at home.

Paying for it

We quote in writing after the assessment. Redbridge Council can contribute if a free needs assessment finds eligible needs and a financial assessment says your relative qualifies. NHS Continuing Healthcare may pay where needs are mainly health needs. The detail is on our Redbridge live-in care page, and live-in care in London explains what a carer does day to day.

What we can help with in Barkingside

• A carer living in, with their own room
• Care for one person or a couple
• Personal care through the day
• Medication support
• Cooking, housekeeping and laundry
• Dementia support at home
• Company, outings and appointments
• Cover arranged for the carer's breaks