Live-in Care in Penge

Is there room for a live-in carer in a Penge flat?

It depends on the bedrooms, not the size of the building. SE20's homes are largely Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses, a good share of them divided into flats, plus housing association blocks. Here is how that usually works out:

• A whole terraced house with two or three bedrooms almost always has space for a carer.
• A two-bedroom flat, converted or purpose-built, can work if the second bedroom is cleared for the carer's own use, with a bed, a wardrobe or drawers and a door that shuts.
• A one-bedroom flat or studio cannot take a live-in carer. A sofa bed in the living room is not acceptable for someone working and living there for weeks at a time. Here a package of daily visits is the realistic route; see home care in Penge.

If the person rents from Clarion or another housing association, check the tenancy before the carer moves in. A carer living in to provide care is not a lodger, but landlords generally want to know who is staying in the home.

Narrow stairs, small bathrooms and equipment

The trouble with many SE20 flats is getting things in and people out. A first- or second-floor conversion often has a tight shared staircase that a hospital bed, hoist or large wheelchair will struggle to get up. Measure before equipment is ordered, and tell the hospital or the council's occupational therapist about the stairs so they can suggest kit that fits, such as a folding commode, a slimmer wheelchair or a bath board.

This is where a live-in carer earns their place. With someone there all day, the trip downstairs can be timed for when the person feels strongest, there is a steady arm on every step, and on a bad day there is no pressure to go out at all. Visits at fixed times cannot give the same flexibility.

The carer's break: park, library and High Street

Penge is a good place for a live-in carer to take their daily break, because it is all within walking distance:

• Crystal Palace Park, along the western edge of SE20, with its Grade I listed Victorian dinosaur sculptures.
• Penge Library at 46 Green Lane.
• Penge High Street, for shops, cafés and errands.

The same places work for the person on a good day, so a carer can plan a short trip out together at another time: a bench in the park to watch the dinosaurs, or a coffee on the High Street.

Home from hospital to a flat upstairs

Bromley's acute admissions go mainly to the PRUH at Farnborough, several miles from SE20. Being discharged back to an upstairs flat in SE20 brings its own worries: whether the person can manage the stairs on the day, and who will be there on the first night. If live-in care is being considered, tell the ward early and call us, so we can check the carer's room and the stairs before a date is fixed. Age UK Bromley & Greenwich's Take Home and Settle service can help some patients in the first hours home, on referral from hospital staff.

Couples in SE20

In a Penge terrace where both partners are getting older, one carer can support both: personal care for one, help with the house and the shopping for the other. The two-bedroom rule still applies, because the couple keep their own bedroom and the carer needs another.

Paying for it

Bromley Council decides eligibility through a needs assessment, then means-tests; if it contributes, a direct payment can be put towards live-in care from an agency. If the person's needs are primarily health needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare covers the full cost; the NHS guide to Continuing Healthcare explains how. The council route and contacts are on our Bromley live-in care page, and live-in care in London explains how a placement works. We quote in writing after the free assessment.

What we can help with in Penge

• 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