Is Home Care better than Care Homes. Home Care or Care Homes: a comparison of elderly care options. Home care and care homes – what is the difference?
Care homes, or Home Care? The choice can be confusing. Different families have differing needs, residential care homes are not the only alternative – elderly home care could be a better option. Home carers can maintain your loved one’s safety, wellbeing, and dignity in their own home.
For most people, being professionally supported to live healthy, happy, and safe in their own home can provide the security they need, while maintaining their independence and quality of life. Therefore, most people prefer live in-home care to support their loved ones in their own homes.
Home care is the most popular option amongst elderly people who need care. Most people want to receive private care at home.
Home care is proven to be better for health and wellbeing.
Care at home has a greater positive impact on wellbeing, happiness, and reduced hospital admissions than admission to a care home.
Perhaps for this reason, it is the aim of the NHS to keep people out of residential care and in their own homes for as long as possible. Home care also forms an important part of the World Health Organisation’s 2021 strategy.
Home care is more cost-effective.
Contrary to popular belief, home care is typically cheaper than going into a residential care home.
Home care is better for those living with Dementia.
Those with dementia in particular benefit from private care at home. This is partly from being around their own belongings in a place full of memories and stimuli (such as photographs and books). Dementia sufferers who live at home experienced higher activity levels, quality of life and social connectedness than those living in care homes. Medical recommendation is that people with dementia should be cared for at home wherever possible.
Care homes do not always have great dementia provision.
People often enter a home when their needs have become too difficult to manage at home. This is often driven by behavioural challenges, with most people in care homes having a form of dementia. Nearly half of those living with dementia in care homes could not access specialised dementia services.
In addition, some dementia sufferers can find it distressing to be around so many others with the same condition, particularly if they have conflicting challenging behaviours.
Is Home Care better than Care Homes.
Support at home is designed to meet your needs.
Support can be tailored to your loved ones needs and adjusted over time to fit a changing situation. For example, you might start with a few hours twice a week to help with tasks like shopping and cleaning – then move up over time to daily care, or even a live-in carer. You can always transition to a care home later if you feel it is necessary.
In Conclusion
Historically, care homes have been considered by many to be the only safe and practical option for those with advanced care needs. This is no longer the case, thanks to a combination of more home care organisations, more flexibility on spending care budgets from Local Authorities, and a variety of technologies and other adaptations available to make homes safer and easier to navigate. As a result, both care homes and care at home are viable options for most people requiring care.
Ultimately, whether you choose a care home or home care, this should be based on personal preferences and the elderly person’s individual care needs.
If you have more questions about how home care works, or about what flexible options might be best for you and your family, you can book a free care consultation with
River Garden Home Care to speak with our care experts. Simply call us on 020 8460 9571 or visit our website on rivergardenhomecare.co.uk