When the time comes for you or someone you love to start receiving care, choosing between home care and residential care can be difficult as you may be unsure of which option is best for you.
Although everyone is different and has their individual needs and wants, there are many benefits to receiving care at home. For example, it allows you to remain in familiar surroundings and maintain your lifestyle.
Additionally, home care, also known as domiciliary care, is flexible and whether you need elderly care, live-in care or palliative care, you can receive this in the comfort of your own home.
To help you decide whether home care is the right option for you we have compiled a list of 10 advantages of home care.
1. Home care lets you remain in familiar surroundings
This is the first and most obvious advantage to being cared for at home. It allows you to continue to live where you are the most safe and comfortable, surrounded by friends and family.
For example, if only one person in an elderly couple needs care, getting it at home avoids separation, which can cause anxiety and worry for everyone involved.
Particularly for older people, it is common to have lived in the same place for a long time collecting memories and personal items which can be difficult to separate from. Care at home enables you to keep sleeping in your own bed, continue to relax in your favourite lounge chair, soak up the sun in your own garden and more.
2. No need to uproot and sell your home
Moving homes and all the complications that come with it is stressful at any stage of life. The need to receive care can often appear suddenly and organising the selling of your home and finding care at the same time can be difficult.
Choosing home care over residential care means that you do not have to leave and removes the worries of everything that selling your home involves, such as what to do with all your things, estate agent fees, etc.
3. Home care is flexible to suit your needs
You will receive a personalised care plan, fully tailored to your needs, preferences and lifestyle. A major factor of home care provision is promoting independence and so you will be encouraged to continue to live your normal life.
Home care can be provided long-term or temporary through short visits all the way to 24-hour live-in care if this is what you require.
You can, for example, have someone come over and help you clean and prepare meals a few times a week, have a care worker help you get in and out of bed each day or be accompanied by a care worker on trips out or at home for a chat.
There are various types of home care available, such as personal care, dementia care and nursing care. To read more about what the types of care involve, click here.
4. You only pay for the care you need
When you receive home care, the fees involved are only for the time that you are being cared for as opposed to in residential care where costs also cover things like utility bills.
For example, if a care worker visits you three times per week, and each visit is one hour, you will only pay for those three hours.
The cost of home care in the UK is between £20 to £30 per hour, and live-in care fees start at around £900 to £1,400 a week. It is important to note that fees vary depending on your needs.
Please visit our home care fees guide for more information.
5. Retain independence and lifestyle
Home care can be provided to fit around your lifestyle and schedule. Retaining independence is important, especially for people’s mental wellbeing.
You will be able to choose your own schedule, leave the house when you wish to and maintain your hobbies and interests, such as gardening.
With home care, you will be able to as far as possible keep your routines and continue to be a part of your community.
6. Maintain relationships
Remaining at home does not just mean that you will have your home comforts at hand at all times, it also means that you can receive visitors as you please, maintain relationships with people in your community and see people you would usually see on a daily basis.
Perhaps you are a part of a club or organisation that meets at certain times, or your family has regular Sunday dinners which you will be able to continue to attend.
7. Person-centred, one-to-one care
Home care is highly personalised as you will receive one-to-one care each time a care worker visits you. This means they will be fully focussed on just you for the duration of their visit.
This allows the care worker to have more dedicated time to get to know you as a person, understand your needs and provide care and support accordingly.
8. Your family can be more involved
It is sometimes not possible to choose the location when you move into residential care, which can mean that you are further away from family who would normally support you on a daily basis.
Remaining at home can benefit family involvement in your care and allow them to play a larger part in your care plan.
9. End of life and palliative care in your own home
If you are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or are nearing end of life, it does not mean that you have to move away.
Although the same services may not be available at home compared to a hospital or care home, receiving end of life care at home allows people to spend their last time at home. This can also be greatly comforting for your family and friends and provide them with peace of mind.
Anyone approaching end of life is entitled to high-quality care, wherever they wish to be cared for. For more information on receiving end of life care or palliative care at home, click here.
10. Pets allowed
Another great advantage to receiving home care is that you can keep your pets close. Some care homes do not allow pets and it can be difficult to come to terms with leaving them.
Pets provide comfort and companionship and can improve wellbeing. For many pets are an extremely important part of their life and having them around can make a huge difference.
Starting to receive home care will come with some changes to your daily life. Follow the link below to find out what you can expect.