Live-in Care in Upminster and Cranham

Yes, we provide live-in care in Upminster and Cranham. A carer we have matched to your relative, or to both of your parents, moves into the home for a set stint and is then replaced by a second carer, so care carries on without a gap. We begin with a free home assessment and write the care plan from it.

Two people, one live-in carer

Where a husband and wife have shared the same Upminster semi or detached house for decades, live-in care for two can keep them there together. One carer living in can support both partners, for example:

• a husband with dementia whose wife is managing but tiring, where the carer takes on his personal care and gives her back her evenings;
• two partners who each need help getting up, washing and dressing, but are fine for much of the day;
• one partner recovering from a hospital stay while the other needs company and meals.

We assess both people, not just the one who prompted the call, and the plan has to be safe for each of them. If both partners need two people to help them move, or both need help repeatedly during the night, one carer is not enough, and we will say so before anything is agreed.

Does a bungalow or sheltered flat have room for a carer?

Single-storey living is a real advantage for live-in care. There are no stairs between your relative and the bathroom, and a hoist or wheelchair is easier to use on one level. The question is whether the bungalow has two bedrooms. Some do; smaller ones may not.

Sheltered flats are harder. Most are one-bedroom, and a live-in carer needs a bedroom of their own. Even where there is a second room, the scheme may have its own rules about someone living in, so check with the scheme manager first. If live-in care will not fit, look at visiting care in Upminster, which depends on carer availability.

In the bigger family houses, space is not the issue. Think about which bedroom is nearest the bathroom for your relative, and whether the carer's room is close enough for them to hear at night.

How will the carer get to Upminster on changeover day?

Upminster station is served by three lines, which helps on changeover days. The District line ends here, c2c trains run from Fenchurch Street and Barking, and the Liberty line comes in from Romford, which links to the Elizabeth line. The District line and c2c platforms have step-free access to the street. Platform 6, used by the Liberty line, does not, and neither does Upminster Bridge station. A carer arriving with a suitcase is best coming in on the District line or c2c.

Parking is easier than in Romford. There is permit parking around the station, but residential roads further out are mostly unrestricted. For houses out towards Cranham or the Green Belt edge, where buses are thin, a carer coming by train may need a taxi or a lift from the family for the last stretch.

Who pays for live-in care in Upminster?

Usually the person themselves, the council or the NHS, sometimes in combination. Where funding may be available, Havering Adult Social Care carries out a needs assessment and then a financial assessment; you can start it through GOV.UK's needs assessment link for Havering. For a couple, each partner is assessed separately. NHS Continuing Healthcare applies where the main needs are health needs. We give you a written quote after our assessment. Our Havering live-in care page covers direct payments and the council route in more detail, and live-in care in London explains the arrangement as a whole.

What we can help with in Upminster

• 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