Home Care vs Care Home: Pros and Cons
It is often assumed that there is only one choice to make when it comes to considering care for yourself of a loved one – home care vs care home.
As this article will explore, the reality is that you can choose either or both of these options, to suit your current and future care needs.
Pros and Cons of Home Care
If you need a little extra help around the house, or are looking for specialist support with specific tasks or personal care, home care visits from a qualified carer can be a great option.
Tailored to your individual requirements, home care can assist with everything from grocery shopping to household chores, support with medication management and meal preparation, help to get washed and dressed or support to attend appointments.
Your home care provider will discuss your care and support needs with you via a care assessment, and agree the frequency and length of home care visits with you
Home care pros include receiving the tailored support you need to remain independent in your own home, with the reassurance of regular visits from qualified carers. For those who live alone, home care can also provide welcome company and companionship, whilst providing loved ones with the peace of mind that comes from regular wellbeing checks.
Home care cons include the fact that home care visits are at specific, pre-arranged times, rather than being a 24/7 care solution. However, this is where a combination of home care and additional support offered by care homes can come in really handy.
Pros and Cons of Care Homes
Residential care homes offer round-the-clock specialist care, in a comfortable, well-equipped environment. Some care homes specialise in expert care for those living with dementia, or provide hospital-standard nursing care to support those diagnosed with chronic or long-term medical conditions.
Many people think that moving into a care home full-time is the only option available to them, but there are also shorter-term or ad-hoc care solutions offered by care homes, which can complement existing home care visits.
Day care involves spending the day at a care home, joining in with the activities and entertainment available to residents, enjoying a cooked meal and refreshments, and benefiting from the expert care and support of the qualified care team. This mixture of companionship and care offers a change of scene in a safe and stimulating environment, whilst enabling any family carers to attend appointments, do other things or simply take a break.
Similarly, short respite breaks in a care home can be a great option at times when additional care is required, perhaps to help with recuperation after a hospital stay, or when family members are away on holiday or perhaps unwell themselves. Respite stays can last anything from a couple of days to a few weeks, and provide all of the benefits open to long-term residents at the care home, including all meals and refreshments, access to all facilities and activities, whilst all household tasks and laundry are also taken care of.
Respite breaks and day care can help you to remain independent at home for longer, whilst also providing an insight into care home life before making any longer-term care decisions.
Care home pros include multiple options for ad-hoc or full-time care, including day care, respite breaks which can work alongside care in an individual’s own home, and long-term residential care for 24/7 support.
Care home cons include the fact that round-the-clock care is provided outside of the individual’s home, which can mean a move into new surroundings. Day care and respite breaks can help people to become accustomed to life in the care home, and settle into a new environment which delivers expert care in well-equipped surroundings.
Home Care vs Care Home – Factors to Consider
When considering care options for yourself or a loved one, think about your current requirements and whether these might change or increase over time.
Combining home care with day care and respite breaks in a care home, can help provide flexible support options which enable people to remain independent in their own homes for longer.
Introducing care homes early on can be helpful to create familiarity with a residential care environment, as well as enabling the home’s care team to understand the individual’s care requirements. It’s worth considering care homes which offer specialist care, and can accommodate increasing needs should conditions progress.
Understanding your home care and care home options
The first step to making an informed care decision is to understand the options available in your local area. Somerset Care’s friendly and knowledgeable care advisors can talk you through the home care and care home options on offer.
For impartial advice and care information tailored to your needs, please call 0800 8174 990 or click on the links below.
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Our aim is to make what can be an overwhelming and emotional journey as reassuring and straightforward as possible. Please contact our friendly Enquiries Team for expert care advice and to explore the support options available for you and your loved one.
