Choosing between a care home or home care is an important decision for your family. Everyone wants their loved ones to be happy and well cared for in their later life.
The choice is often made at a time of great stress after a diagnosis or intervention when it becomes clear that additional support is required. It is both an emotional and a practical decision. Practical considerations include cost and availability of services. Emotional considerations include the feelings of both your loved one and the primary caregiver/s.
Understanding care options
What is a care home?
A care home or a residential home is accommodation for older people who need support with daily living. They may require nursing for health conditions and may be at the end of their life and require specialist palliative care.
The most distinctive feature of care homes is that they provide a safe environment with 24/7 monitoring. They are communal and have multiple residents. This means they can arrange for group activities like coffee mornings, group exercise classes, or games evenings. They may have a dining room for meals or they may serve meals in individual rooms.
Accommodation is typically a room or en suite. Sheltered accommodation for the more active resident includes separate apartments with kitchens and bathrooms. Care homes and sheltered accommodation have emergency buttons to call for help and assistance.
What is home care?
Home care is when a carer or a team of carers provide personal care in the person’s own home. They can provide a mix of services to include personal care, companionship and condition-led assistance. This can be 24/7, live-in, daily or drop in care.
Personal care includes help with washing, dressing and eating. Condition-led assistance can include dementia care, challenging behaviours or long term conditions like multiple sclerosis or autism. Medication management and nursing are available as home care services. General assistance with health appointments and accessing the community are offered by home care agencies.
What is the difference between home care and care homes?
Retaining independence
One of the primary reasons for opting for home care is the retention of independence. A patient can continue to live in their own home for longer and have a greater say in how they would like the house to run. In a care home, the structured environment means that there is less independence. It is designed to take the pressure off the individual by reducing the decisions they need to make.
Personalised care
Home care providers will provide personalised care. A care package will be discussed with the family and the individual. It will be set up to meet their individual needs and can be completely unique to the situation. In the care home environment, systems are in place to manage a community of residents. This can mean that some services are standardised to meet the needs of the whole community. A good quality care home will still be cognisant of their resident’s individual personalities.
Social interaction
One of society’s biggest problems is the loneliness of older people who live alone in their homes. In a care home environment there are opportunities to take part in activities with other residents. This means that care home residents experience social interaction with staff and other residents. In home care, the focus is on maintaining the existing social networks and increasing them where possible. Home carers do this by assisting the person to visit friends and family, access local events, sports and activities.
Respite for a caregiver
Moving into a care home will relieve a primary caregiver of the responsibility of care. Arranging home care support can do the same, providing temporary respite care or full time live in support so that the caregiver can take a break away from caring either regularly or as a one-off.
The advantages of home care
The main advantage to home care is being able to stay in the comfort of one’s own home. This familiarity is important to many older people. It also means that they can stay part of their local community. In addition to personal preference, home care provides one-to-one care and it is flexible and personal. Home care agencies will have carers who are experienced in different types of support and conditions.
The advantages of care homes
The advantage of a care home is that there is no longer any need to rent or own a property and maintain it. Care homes are specialists in providing comprehensive solutions. They’ll have specialist support for individual conditions and requirements. They encourage social connections as the residents have the chance to take part in group activities.
How to choose between home care and a care home
Health needs
Think about the level of care that is required. Does the recipient need basic personal care of specialist nursing care, continual monitoring or occasional help?
Financing care
Consider the cost differences between a care home and home care services. Residential care homes and home care services can carry a significant cost depending on the requirements. If the cost is not affordable, look for government funding and available benefits.
Availability
Is there a suitable care home in close proximity to family and friends so that the resident can maintain ties? Is a home care service available in your area that offers the services that you need?
Choosing between a care home and home care
Choosing between a care home and home care service is a personal choice. It depends on factors like health needs, special conditions, future-proofing, and personal preferences.
It is worth taking the time to do your research for such an important decision. Find out what options are available and assess how well they will fit your needs. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option, how much they will cost and whether they can offer the help you need.
Book a free call with our specialist care team who can advise on home care and residential care home options for you or your loved one.