The advantages of home care (also referred to as domiciliary care)

What are the benefits of receiving home care?

A little bit of help to retain independence

It is a common misconception that people who need homecare are no longer able to care for themselves.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  Whilst many of our home care clients do require a full package of care, a large number are  have found that as they have aged some activities have become a little more difficult and they need a helping hand.

Home help

Many older people have less energy to carry out domestic tasks than they once did. Home care professionals can help with many tasks such as light housekeeping, putting the bins out, changing bed linen and attending to laundry.

Shopping and errands

Pushing a trolley, carrying shopping bags, ordering online and even unpacking groceries can become difficult as people age.  Some homecare clients also appreciate help running errands.

A helping hand

Many clients are still able to shower independently but due to a reduction in their mobility and flexibility it may mean that they are unable to reach to wash their backs, lower legs and feet.  A home care professional can help with all these things leaving each client to independently manage all other aspects of their personal care.  For some a couple of one hour visits a week is all they need to overcome these challenges.

Medication support

Many clients have the mental capacity to manage their medication but they may no longer be able to see well enough or have the dexterity in their fingers to handle small tablets.

For these clients, a couple of one hour visits a week is all they need to overcome these challenges.

Pet care

It is reported that there are a number of health benefits of owning a pet, particularly for older people who may be lonely.  It can be a source of concern if, as people age, they don’t feel able to walk or otherwise care for their pets.  This responsibility also often falls to family members who may struggle to fit this in.This is also something our care professionals can help with.

Companionship

It is reported that 1.4 million older people in the UK are often lonely.  This is often linked to bereavement, disability and frailty.  It can also be linked to no longer feeling confident or safe enough to drive.

Social activities are known to be an important part of successfully tackling loneliness, but for many lonely people these activities are only effective when complemented by emotional and practical support to access them.

All of our home care is relationship-led, and the minimum visit time is an hour, so any interaction with a Home Instead care professional will reduce feelings of loneliness but many people aren’t aware that we also offer a purely companionship service.

Our companionship clients tend to ask for a couple of weekly visits from a care professional who has a car and can accompany them on trips out, sometimes accessing activities, social groups and religious gatherings which have always been important to them.

In other cases where a client prefers to stay at home, they might like to bake with care professionals, play scrabble (clients often win!), reminisce, look through a memory book and photo albums, feed the birds, or just sit and have a chat over a cup of tea.

At Home Instead, care professionals are matched with clients based on personalities, interests and social preferences, and they seem the same person each week, which means that warm relationships are developed and clients look forward to the visits which add colour to their week.

Emotional support

For many, the physical impacts of ageing can be emotionally challenging and clients appreciate having the company of a trusted care professional who they can share their worries and concerns with, without adding to the worry of their family members.

Motivation

When they first contact us, a number of our clients’ children are concerned that their parents have lost the motivation to do very much.  Home care can help with that.

Eating

New clients who live on their own often tell us that they don’t enjoy, or don’t have the energy, to cook for themselves any longer.  An activity that they once found to be an enjoyable one, because they would share the meal with a loved one, is no longer one that brings them any pleasure.   As a result their diet tends to be less healthy which can further increase a lack of energy and motivation.  Our home care professionals enjoy cooking with, or for, clients and, when a client wishes, a care professional will share the meal and a chat with the client.  Clients are able to choose what they would like to eat and when they would like to eat it.  Some clients like the care professional to bring them fish and chips on a Friday night too!

Drinking

Many of us, regardless of age, don’t drink as much as we know we should and our clients are no different.  Having regular visits from care professionals who will encourage hydration and can leave the clients with drinks within easy reach helps increase the amount of fluids drunk each day.  This is good for energy but also vital for reducing the likelihood of UTIs and dehydration in hot weather.

Washing and dressing

If clients haven’t got anything to do, or look forward to, or if they have dementia, they may begin to neglect their personal hygiene or general appearance.  Having regular visits from home care professionals motivates clients to get up, washed and dressed and can encourage a good daytime routine which helps reduce sleepless nights.  Many of our clients receiving care at home really look forward to picking out their clothes for the day with their care professional.

Family members often feel less guilty

Family members often feel as though they are being pulled in all directions.  As well as the person who needs a bit of extra help, they may have spouses, children, grandchildren, pets and bosses.  They often tell us that they don’t feel they are doing anything well and they feel guilty.  When Home Instead is involved, families know that they are providing the very best care for their loved ones, and have more time to spend with all the important people in their lives and because they are less tired from juggling everything, the time is more enjoyable and they feel less guilty.

Increased safety

A qualified home care professional may identify potential risks or suggest small changes to the environment that may make life easier and reduce the risk of falls or other accidents.

Flexibility and peace of mind

Because home care is purchased by the hour, care packages can be as big, or small, as suits a client’s needs at any time.  This means that you only pay for the care you need and have the peace of mind that if a client’s needs change, the care can be increased immediately.

Complex care needs

As time goes by, many of our clients’ cognitive and physical needs change and, for those clients we are able to provide a full package of care either independently, or shared with family members.

Our home care professionals are trained to meet a wide range of needs and support people with many conditions.

We are able to provide several visits a day, full day care, 24 hour care and live in care at home.

Relieves pressure on family members

Clients’ family members often contact us when they are exhausted.  Often they have their own jobs, interests, the responsibility of running a home and other caring commitments and, as much as they want to care for their loved one, sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day.  Having regular visits from trusted home care professionals relieves them of the practical tasks meaning that when they are able to spend time with their loved one, it is quality time that they can enjoy together.