What Advantages Does Home Care have over a Care Home?
If you have an elder parent or a loved one, you may face the question of whether to consider a care home for them or perhaps care at home service. In the past, many believed that moving an ageing individual to a care facility is the best and most practical option for them. But that is hardly the case anymore, with the advent of care at home services. The flexibility and professional level that such a service brings in the life of ageing individuals and their loved ones is not on par with care homes.
Of course, there are many things to factor in a decision of which option is best, but in regards to some of the benefits, home care definitely comes on top. Here are a few of the upsides it has in comparison to care homes:
- For most elderly individuals, it is the preferred option — to any ageing person, the very thought of leaving their home is a no-go. It comes with a lot of stress, and unknowns, not to mention a sense of loss, which they cannot overcome that easily. Home care services enable individuals to remain in the comfort of their own home. They agree with the idea because they realise they need some assistance, which doesn’t need to come at the expense of changing their home environment.
- Better for wellbeing and health — according to numerous studies, person-oriented home care service brings a positive change in old people’s lives. They experience better wellbeing and physical health, in addition to fewer hospital admissions. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, because people are very stressed out when they leave their familiar surroundings and feel much more comfortable staying at home.
- Better for people with dementia — the group of an elderly individual who has dementia or a similar condition benefit especially well from services that have to do with home care. That is because, for such people, any change in the environment and their surroundings triggers confusion and additional stress. Their home is full of stimuli and memories, which can serve as an anchor for focus and concentration. Experts on the matter agree that whenever possible, people with dementia should receive home care service instead of moving to a care home.
- Home care maintains independence — another important benefit of home care lies in the fact that it fosters independence. By receiving support at home, elderly individuals continue living certain aspects of their life that they are familiar with and used to. They can get the help they need, and not the general aid that people get in a care facility.
- The service is highly versatile — home care service is all about being tailored to the needs of the individual. It can start with a few hours every week, gradually increasing as the person finds a new need for more assisted living. It can feature tasks that help with things like shopping and cleaning and then start featuring more personal aid — bathing, toileting, feeding, etc.
- You have direction over the care — you can ask the company to change your carer if you are not happy with the way they are handling things. And if you choose a self-employed carer, you can then ensure the person is right for the task. The major idea behind having a dedicated carer is that you can ensure continuity of the service, with routines and bonds in place.
There is no doubt that many benefits exist to enlisting a home care service for an ageing loved one. Making an informed decision on who to entrust with this task is very important.
