Live-in Care in Thornton Heath

Yes, we arrange live-in care in Thornton Heath. A trained carer moves into the home, has their own room and supports one person or a couple through the day, with a protected break every day. It begins with a free home assessment, usually with Jackie, our registered manager, followed by a written care plan you can read before anyone moves in.

Home from Croydon University Hospital to a CR7 street

Croydon University Hospital is on London Road in Thornton Heath itself, so the journey home is short. The difficulty is the speed. Once a ward decides someone is medically fit, the plan for going home can come together quickly, and a person who went in walking may come out needing help to stand and wash.

Live-in care fits that moment well. There is someone in the house from the first evening, through the first night and into the next morning, which is when someone just home from hospital can be at their most unsteady. The carer can follow the ward's instructions on mobility and medicines, and they notice early if something is going wrong. Tell the ward as soon as possible that the family is looking at live-in care, and ring us at the same time. We will assess, on the ward if possible, and say honestly whether we can staff the date the hospital has in mind. Our hospital discharge page explains how we work with the plan the ward sets.

Is there room for a live-in carer in a Thornton Heath terrace?

It depends on whether the family owns the whole house or one floor of it. A live-in carer needs a bedroom of their own with a door that closes, plus use of the kitchen and bathroom.

• A whole terraced house usually has two or three bedrooms upstairs, so the carer's room is rarely the problem.
• A maisonette or two-bedroom flat in a split terrace can work, as long as the second room is genuinely free and not full of storage.
• A one-bedroom flat, whether in a conversion or one of the low-rise blocks, has no room for a carer to live in. In that case, look at visiting care in Thornton Heath or talk to us about other options.

Stairs, hoists and the narrow hallway

In many Thornton Heath homes the stairs come straight down to the front door beside a narrow hallway. That shapes two decisions we go through at the assessment.

• Where the person sleeps. If the bathroom is upstairs and the stairs are no longer safe, a straight flight often takes a stairlift. If it does not, a bed downstairs with a commode may be the answer for a while.
• Equipment. A mobile hoist needs floor space to turn. In a terraced front room, that can mean moving furniture before the hospital delivers anything.

If the ward has not already arranged it, ask Croydon Council for an occupational therapy assessment before equipment is ordered; the therapist measures the room and the stairs.

A break for the carer, close to home

Off-duty time is part of the agreement from day one. While a relative or a group sits with your parent, the carer has places close by:

• Thornton Heath Library at 190 Brigstock Road, for a quiet hour with a book or the Wi-Fi (closed on Thursdays).
• Grangewood Park or Thornton Heath Recreation Ground, for a walk.
• The cafés along the High Street, between the clock tower and the station.

For someone with a dementia diagnosis, Age UK Croydon's Memory Tree Café has run a Wednesday afternoon session in Thornton Heath; ring Age UK Croydon on 020 8686 0066 to check the current day, venue and referral process. A relative can go with them while the carer takes their break.

Can a husband and wife share one live-in carer in Thornton Heath?

Often, yes. One carer can support a couple where the combined care is manageable for one person by day and the nights are usually undisturbed. If both need help with moving and handling, or someone needs help several times a night, we will tell you honestly that one carer is not enough.

Paying for live-in care from a Thornton Heath address

We quote in writing after the free assessment, once we know what is needed. If Croydon Council is involved, the process starts with a needs assessment, and council funding can be taken as a direct payment towards live-in care. Our Croydon live-in care page sets out that route in full. Where someone's needs are mainly health needs, ask the ward or the GP about NHS Continuing Healthcare, which can fund the whole package. See our London live-in care page for how the service works.

What we can help with in Thornton Heath

• 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