The benefits of home care
Everyone relies on a social network of some kind, be it talking to neighbours over the fence, or going to church, maintaining contact with friends and family is vital.
For these reasons, most older people in the UK wish to remain living at home within their community. The thought of having to move from an area they have happily lived in for many years, in a house shared with family, can be distressing.
Home care versus care homes
To retain well-being, quality of life and remain connected, we believe that encouraging independence at home is best for older people. With the support of home care services, many people are choosing to live at home for longer. It can be more economical and helps a person to maintain their dignity and sense of control as they age.
What are the differences between home care services and a residential care home?
Living in your home
- Home care: Living in familiar comfort with your lifetime of collected belongings and memories.
- Care home: In a care home, you have to downsize and live in just one room.
Pets
- Home care: You can remain connected with the pets that are part of your family.
- Care home: Most care homes do not accept pets, meaning the potential loss of a beloved companion.
Flexibility
- Home care: Home care is adapted to your needs and can be rearranged at short notice.
- Care home: A care home is an ‘always on’ service. You still pay for time and services that you don’t need.
What you choose to eat
- Home care: If you want to eat beans on hot buttered toast at 9 pm at night, your Care Professional will make this for you – how you like it.
- Care Home: Care home meals are structured and are only available at meal times with less choice available.
One-on-one care
- Home care: With home care, your carer is there only for you.
- Care home: In a care home, there are many other people to attend to and you may not receive the same attention.
Independence and dignity
- Home care: Staying in your own home allows you to retain control of your life without having your independence or dignity taken away.
- Care home: Living in a care home takes away much of your privacy and people can become institutionalised.
Loneliness
- Home care: A Care Professional can drive you in their car to either see friends, go to church or go shopping and offer companionship when you need it.
- Care home: Living in a care home can feel isolated, away from your friends with little opportunity to go out and there may be a possibility that you don’t like the other residents.
Support for the future on your terms
By gradually introducing home care and increasing it over time, you can maintain control while growing older. You’ll know that you have support for unforeseen events or if you become ill and it’s a gentle way to integrate care on your terms, rather than the shock of a new environment and life change.
Cost comparison: residential care home vs home care services
As the cost of care homes increases, remaining at home can be the most cost-effective solution. More local authority funding can be available for home care, as a property is not considered in means-testing – unlike for a residential care home (June 2017).
A care home will on average cost from £600 up to £1,500 per week – depending on the level of needs and exclusivity.
Home care, for three visits per day, is an average of £460 per week – depending on additional mileage and weekends.
If care needs increase or there becomes a need for more than one carer at a time, a residential care home becomes more economical, but this doesn’t factor in the emotional benefits of remaining at home.
What are the differences between home care, care homes and nursing homes?
Home care is when a qualified Care Professional comes to your home to support you and helps keep you living independently at home. They can cover specialist conditions and illnesses such as Parkinson’s, dementia, multiple sclerosis and palliative care. All carers are specially trained.
A care home is staffed 24 hours a day with qualified care assistants but the home does not need nursing requirements. Care homes are not able to meet the demands of someone who needs specialist care for dementia.
Nursing homes provide the same service as a residential care home with qualified care assistants but who are supervised by registered nurses and are equipped to provide care for specialist conditions and illnesses. Some nursing homes offer specialist care for dementia, with specially trained staff.