When considering care there are a few different avenues that you can go down to best suit you. The two that may first jump to mind are the classic two; home care or a care home. Both have their advantages and are extremely useful services. But, ultimately the choice best suited to you will differ in each circumstance. So how do you decide which is best suited to you personally? Well, the first step is to understand fully what each option is and how they may benefit the user.
What is a Residential / Care home?
Residential care is where someone is provided accommodation and looked after or supported 24/7 by care personnel. This can be great for someone who may struggle to live independently but are otherwise healthy and not in need of nursing care. The social aspect can be a positive as well for care home residents. They get to mingle with others around them within the accommodation. This enhances their quality of life and decreasing any feeling of loneliness or isolation that they may otherwise experience. The downside to a residential home is the fact that the person will be removed from what they know. Their home, memories and belongings are all left behind in order to relocate them to a residence. This is something that can be quite a difficult transition for people.
What is the difference between a residential home and a nursing home?
The main difference is the level of care that is being provided. A nursing home is a place where fully trained nurses are on hand 24/7. This means there’s someone to take care of the residents and provide them with medical and nursing care round the clock. Generally, nursing homes are typically more expensive, as residential homes tend to only provide personal care and accommodation.
What is Homecare?
Home care is more of an umbrella term. It includes any kind of health care or supportive care given within the individual’s home. Whether that be on a live-in or visiting basis. Also known as ‘domiciliary care’, homecare includes a lot of personal care that the individual may not be able to complete themselves. Medication can also be administered to the client during visits. Homecare can be much more tailored to suit the needs of each individual, whether more extensive care visits are required, or whether it is mainly just social visits to reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation.
The bonus to home care is that the client gets to keep the comfort and security of being at home whilst also being helped with the tasks they may no longer be able to do for themselves. They also get to remain surrounded by their home and all of their belongings. But, get to maintain the level of independence that in itself brings. Homecare visits can be scheduled as needed, whether that be one visit a day or multiple visits throughout the day.
So, home care or a care home?
So as you see, both homecare and residential care have their benefits and drawbacks. The decision is definitely down to what level of care each individual both needs and desires. The best way to determine what kind of needs require what kind of service is to request a needs assessment from your local council. Then you’ll get a recommendation as to whether you require nursing care or not. If not, and it is generally more for everyday tasks and personal care, then that decision between homecare and residential care is very much situational. The best way is to speak to providers of both care types, see what they recommend and go from there and go from there.
Contact Us
If you still want to find out more about the services a Home Care Agency can provide, or you are thinking you may require the services of a professional Home Care Provider, you can contact us here or call 0300 124 5004 to speak to one of our friendly team in confidence. Rest assured we will work with you to ensure you or your relative receive the very best in Home Care Services and will be able to offer a tailored service to meet your needs.
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