A comfortable place to rest
Your live-in caregiver will need a private place to sleep with at least a comfortable twin mattress, plus a space to keep their belongings.
Live-in home care that feels like family
Some families need more than a few hours of help. They need someone who is there, in the home, day after day. Someone who knows how Dad likes his eggs, which chair Mom naps in, and exactly what to say when the afternoon gets hard.
That is what live-in care is all about. At Always Responsive Home Care, our live-in caregivers move into your loved one's home and become a steady, caring part of their everyday life, so your loved one can stay safe and comfortable right where they want to be.
From our office in Princeton, serving Mercer County, NJ.
What is live-in care?
With live-in care, a dedicated caregiver lives in your loved one's home and provides support throughout the day. Our live-in caregivers work 7 days a week, often for several weeks and sometimes for months at a time. That means your loved one sees the same familiar face day after day, which is one of the things families love most about live-in care.
A live-in caregiver is not someone working 24 hours straight. Instead, they become part of your loved one's natural rhythm. They follow the care plan, help with everything your loved one needs during the day, and rest when your loved one rests, including a full night's sleep. It is a calm, consistent way of living together that works beautifully for the right family.
Who live-in care is for
Live-in care is a wonderful fit for loved ones who need help for a good part of every day, usually six or more hours spread across the morning, afternoon and evening. It is especially helpful for people who:
- Need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, toileting and eating
- Have trouble getting around and need support to move safely through the day
- Are living with Alzheimer's, dementia or other memory loss and need someone there for their safety
- Want to stay in their own home instead of moving to assisted living or a nursing home
- Have family who want the peace of mind of knowing someone is always close by
How our live-in caregivers help
Every day is built around your loved one's routine, needs and personality. Our live-in caregivers can help with:
- Personal care Bathing, showering, dressing, grooming, toileting and incontinence care
- Mobility and safety Getting in and out of bed, walking, transfers and fall prevention
- Meals Planning, grocery shopping, cooking and enjoying meals together
- Medications Medication reminders so doses are taken on time
- Light housekeeping Laundry, dishes, changing linens and keeping the home tidy
- Companionship Conversation, games, hobbies, walks and someone to share the day with
- Errands and shopping Errands, shopping and transportation to appointments, the pharmacy and the store, with a caregiver who drives
- Alzheimer's and dementia Alzheimer's and dementia support with patience, structure and gentle redirection
- Pet care Feeding, walks and keeping pets company
- Total care Help with more involved needs, including Hoyer lifts
The right match for your loved one
When you first call, we will ask about any special requests, like help with a Hoyer lift, total care, pets in the home or a caregiver who drives. Sharing these with us up front helps us match your loved one with the right caregiver from the very start.
If your loved one would like a live-in caregiver who drives, just let us know. We will work with you to find the right fit and help you put a plan in place for appointments and errands, and we can go over all of the details together during your free in home assessment. Through it all, our focus stays where it belongs, on giving your loved one great care. Driving and pet care are simply extras we are happy to help with.
The benefits of live-in care
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One consistent caregiver.
Because your caregiver actually lives in the home, your loved one gets the same person day after day. Trust builds quickly, routines stay steady and nothing falls through the cracks.
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A more affordable way to have someone there.
For many families, live-in care is a more cost effective option than 24/7 care, where awake caregivers work in shifts around the clock.
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Safety and peace of mind.
Someone is always close by, especially important for loved ones with memory loss or a risk of falling.
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Staying home.
Your loved one keeps their home, their routines and their independence, with the support they need to make it work.
When your live-in caregiver needs time off
This is one of the biggest reasons families choose an agency, and it is where we really shine. Everyone needs time off, and our live-in caregivers decide how often they need it. When they do, we take care of everything.
We provide the replacement caregiver, handle their orientation to your loved one's care plan and let you know in advance, so you are always prepared for any schedule change. We keep a wonderful team of caregivers ready to step in, so your loved one is never without care.
Making live-in care work for everyone
Our caregivers are truly amazing people. They come into your home and give your loved one top notch care, and we want them to feel welcomed and respected in return. When everyone feels at home, the care is better for everyone. Here is what that looks like.
Sleep and breaks
We follow all labor laws to make sure our caregivers get the rest they need to do their best work. Live-in caregivers get at least 8 hours of sleep at night, and during the day they take breaks for meals and personal care. These breaks usually line up naturally with your loved one's schedule, like when they nap or rest, and your caregiver will set up a consistent routine so every part of the care plan gets done.
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Meals, family style
Families often ask how meals work. Your caregiver plans meals around your loved one's tastes and preferences, and they eat together, family style. You can expect a slight increase in your grocery bill. Caregivers bring their own personal care items and any specialty foods or items they need.
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If nights become more difficult
Sometimes a loved one starts waking up more at night. Your live-in caregiver will always get up and help with whatever is needed, and they will let us know. If it keeps happening for a few nights, we will bring in an overnight caregiver so your loved one has support through the night and your live-in caregiver can get the rest they need. This is often a much more affordable option than switching to 24/7 care.
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It starts with a free in home assessment
Every client begins with a free in home assessment. Our registered nurse will come to the home to meet your loved one, see their space, and learn about their routine, health history, preferences and goals. We will also walk through what your home needs to be ready for a live-in caregiver.
From there, we work together with your family to create a custom care plan. We will also talk openly about your budget and work with you to make care as affordable as possible, so your loved one can keep getting the care they need for as long as they need it.
A care team that stays involved
Our support doesn't stop once your caregiver moves in. Our care team works closely and consistently with your family, checking in, supervising our caregivers and updating the care plan whenever your loved one's needs change.
We stay involved with every client to make sure the care plan is exactly the way you want it and that your caregiver understands every detail. Each plan is customized to your loved one, and our supervision team is always there to make sure everything is going the way it should, so you can have real peace of mind.
Why an agency makes all the difference
Many families think about hiring a caregiver on their own to save money, and we completely understand. Caring for a loved one is a big investment. But a lot happens behind the scenes at a home care agency that families don't always think about until they need it. When you choose Always Responsive Home Care, you get:
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Thorough screening.
Every caregiver is background checked, carefully vetted and trained before they ever walk through your door.
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Backup when life happens.
If a caregiver is sick or calls out, we find and send a replacement, so you are not left scrambling to cover the shift yourself.
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A team that is always there.
We are available 24/7, for your family and for our caregivers.
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Supervision and support.
Our care team supervises our caregivers and makes sure the care plan is followed.
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State requirements handled.
We make sure every caregiver and every visit meets or exceeds state regulations.
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Insurance and protection.
We carry the insurance that protects your family and our caregivers, and because our caregivers are our employees, we take care of payroll and taxes too.
Hiring on your own may look less expensive at first, but it often means taking on all of these responsibilities, and the risks that come with them, yourself. With us, a whole team stands behind your loved one's care, so you can simply focus on being family.
Why families choose Always Responsive Home Care
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Backup coverage built in.
When your live-in caregiver takes time off, we provide and orient the replacement, so care never stops.
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Caregivers who are our employees.
Every caregiver works for us directly. We never use independent contractors. Each one is carefully screened, background checked and trained.
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Caregivers who stay.
We pay our caregivers well and treat them like family. That means very low turnover and steady care for your loved one.
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Customer service that actually answers.
Responsive is in our name for a reason. When you call, a real person who knows your loved one is there to help.
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Care that fits your budget.
We work with every family to make care as affordable as possible, with no long term contracts and no large deposits.
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We make it right.
We treat every client like family. If something isn't perfect, we will make it right.
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High standards.
We meet or exceed state regulations for home care in every community we serve.
More ways we can help
As your loved one's needs change, we can adjust their care plan with other services.
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Hourly care
A caregiver for the hours of the day your loved one needs help most.
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Overnight care
An awake, alert caregiver through the night, on its own or alongside a live-in caregiver.
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24/7 care
Awake, alert caregivers in the home around the clock, day and night.
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24/7 Virtual Care
An extra layer of insight around the clock, including overnight while your live-in caregiver is resting, so we can tell early if nights are getting harder.
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Call or text us. Someone is here to talk, any time of day.
(609) 208-1111Click or tap a question to see the answer.
What does care cost?
Every family's needs are different, which is exactly why we start with a free in home assessment. We meet your loved one, learn what they need and work with you to find the most affordable way to get them the right care. You can also learn more on our payment options page.
Does Medicare or my health insurance pay for home care?
Medicare and regular health insurance generally do not cover non-medical home care like ours. Medicare may cover a short period of skilled care at home after a hospital or rehab stay, but that usually ends after a few weeks. That is when many families choose private home care to keep their loved one safe and supported. Our services are private pay, and if your loved one has long term care insurance, we take care of the administrative work for you.
Is there anything your caregivers can't help with?
Our caregivers provide non-medical care and follow the care plan created by our registered nurse. They help with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, meals and so much more. They do not give medications, do wound care or provide other skilled nursing services. For everyone's safety, a loved one who cannot help bear their own weight will need a Hoyer lift or other safety equipment for transfers. If your loved one needs skilled nursing, we are happy to connect you with trusted providers we work with.
What if my loved one doesn't click with their caregiver?
No problem at all. Just let us know. We have a wonderful team of caregivers, and if a match isn't quite right, we will make the change smoothly and professionally so no one feels uncomfortable. We are available 24/7, so you can reach us anytime.
How will I know how things are going?
We stay in close touch from the very start. Before care begins, we do a thorough orientation of the care plan with your caregiver. A couple of days in, we check in with you and your caregiver to see how things are going and make any adjustments. We check in again a few days later to make sure everything is running smoothly. From there, we continue with regular check-ins and visits, including a 30 day phone call and a 60 day in person visit from our RN, and we are always available 24/7.
What training do your caregivers have?
Every caregiver goes through our onboarding and training before joining our team. All of our caregivers are Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs). Before they start with your loved one, we do a thorough orientation of the care plan, and our care team stays involved for as long as care continues.
Are holidays billed differently?
Yes. Specific holidays are billed at time and a half, and every one of them is listed on your consent form, so there are no surprises. Families are sometimes surprised to see Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve on the list. Our caregivers deserve that extra thank you for working on days they would usually spend with their own families, and it helps us make sure your loved one's care is always covered.
Getting started is easy
We know reaching out for help can feel like a big step. We make it simple.
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Call us.
Tell us what is going on. We will listen, answer your questions and support you from the very first conversation.
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Free in home assessment.
We schedule a visit to meet your loved one and build a custom care plan together.
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We take care of the rest.
We handle the details, so the transition into care feels seamless and easy for your whole family.
When you need care quickly, we are here. Care can often start the very same day, which is one reason hospital discharge planners count on us.
We work with all long term care insurance policies and take care of the administrative work for you. There are no long term contracts, no large deposits and nothing billed in advance. Our pricing is clear and upfront, and the only paperwork to get started is a simple consent for care.
Schedule your free in home assessment
If you have been searching for live-in care near me, you are in the right place. Call us today or fill out the form below. We will listen, answer your questions and help you decide whether live-in care is the right fit for your loved one and your family.
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