As we age, we all begin to require more help with everyday tasks, personal care, and managing our health, but the reality of ageing shouldn’t feel scary or overwhelming. When the time comes and you need a little more help, your choice of where to live should always be in your hands.
There are many benefits to choosing home care instead of a care home, but this is a big life choice, and we understand you will want to make the best decision for yourself or your loved one. We’ve helped thousands of families, so whatever questions you have about home care vs a care home, Home Instead can help.
Home care, or domiciliary care, means care received in someone’s own home instead of in a hospital, clinic, assisted living facility, care home or nursing home. You or your loved one may need a helping hand with daily activities like cooking, cleaning or remembering to take medications, or medical support like arthritis and mobility care, catheter or stoma management, or something else. Whatever your needs, if you are not yet ready to move to a care home, it is highly likely the care you require can be provided in the comfort of your own home by a trained professional. You can read more in our guide: What Is Home Or Domiciliary Care?
Home care has many advantages that make it a perfect choice for individuals with disabilities or anyone recovering from an illness or surgery, however it is also a great option for seniors who require additional care as they age. Not every elderly person will benefit from home care, but here are some of the advantages:
Home care can have a positive impact on wellbeing and happiness. One study led by researchers from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford found patients who received home care experienced the same positive health outcomes six months later as those who were admitted to hospital, but saw higher levels of patient satisfaction. The World Health Organization recommends elderly individuals are cared for in their own homes for as long as possible to maintain a strong sense of wellbeing, ideally by a home help organisation in order to reduce pressure on families.
This may be one of the most important benefits of home care. Moving house is a stressful experience for anyone, so moving out of the place you call home in your twilight years can be a major emotional upheaval. Keeping elderly people in their own home surrounded by their own possessions and memories can have a positive impact, and there is no reason to leave these things behind in order to receive adequate care – this is possible at home. Individuals living with dementia may find home care especially helpful, as staying in familiar surroundings means they are less likely to feel confused, anxious or lost. A 2013 study found those living with dementia at home experienced higher activity levels, quality of life, and felt more socially connected than those living in a care home. Another study found that after one month of home care, participants were less likely to develop acute confusion than those living in a care home.
Home care can help maintain a sense of independence, which is important for an individual to feel they are at the centre of their own care journey. Research suggests interventions to maintain independent living have the potential to improve health perception and self-efficacy in seniors, so remaining at home throughout the care journey with an individualised support plan can help you or your loved one to feel content and confident. Staying at home also means the individual can manage things like temperature and noise levels in the home, when they feel like socialising, when they want to eat and sleep, and more. All of these options contribute to a sense of independence.
Home care often makes it easier for family and friends to visit regularly and stay involved in the care process. While many care homes maintain visiting hours and set meal times, staying at home means your family can visit anytime, eat with you, watch TV with you, stay as long as they like, and enjoy spending uninterrupted time together. Financial peace of mind: When someone moves into a care home, they may feel the need to sell their own home in order to pay for this expensive form of care. This can be incredibly stressful, and alongside the financial worries of keeping up with care home payments, you must also condense your possessions to fit into one room, manage the upheaval of house viewings with estate agents, and the big move itself. Home care can help avoid these stresses and financial worries, and can often be more affordable than moving into a care home.
With home care, you won’t pay for care you do not yet require. Home care enables you to choose the areas you currently need help in, and how often. As you begin to require more help, you can add additional services as needed so you always feel supported and in control of your care journey. There are options to suit all – from frequent pop-ins for companionship or home help, to live-in care or even round the clock 24 hour care at home.
For many people, moving away from their community support system can be challenging, but with home care an elderly individual can remain an active member of their community, see friends, attend local events, and enjoy the place they call home.
Pets can be a huge source of comfort for elderly people. Many of us see them as members of the family, so asking someone to part ways with a beloved pet in order to move to a care home can be a traumatic experience. Home care enables anyone to continue living with their much-loved companions, and avoids pets feeling abandoned by their owners.
The professional carers in care homes are just as qualified, friendly and helpful as home care professionals, however, care at home can sometimes establish a stronger bond with carers. With a highly personalised service in your own home, your carer will see where you live, ask about the photos on your mantelpiece, and get to know your family, interests and hobbies.
People with terminal illness may wish to stay at home surrounded by the people they love and their own belongings – according to research, 71% of people would prefer at home palliative care over a hospice. During this stressful time it can be a comfort to spend the final months of life with family members and in familiar surroundings, which is why end of life care at home is also a welcome alternative for many.
Everyone requires bespoke care, and home care won’t suit everyone. Some disadvantages of this type of care include:
At Home Instead, we wholeheartedly believe home care has more benefits than a care home, however we acknowledge there may also be advantages to care homes. Here are some of their benefits:
As above, care homes also have their disadvantages, for example:
While care homes can be useful, for all of the above reasons many people choose to avoid moving into a care home for as long as possible. Instead, home care can be a great option that can maintain health, independence, wellbeing and a sense of control over your life and care.
At Home Instead, we understand there’s no place like home, so our home care offering aims to help elderly individuals retain independence and stay in familiar surroundings. We offer a number of bespoke services which can be tailored to your needs, including companionship, home help and housekeeping, personal care and grooming, night care, respite care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, cancer support, neurological care, postoperative and recovery care, vital signs monitoring, diabetes monitoring, and more. Our Care Professionals are highly trained to deliver the individualised services you need, so no matter what type of home care you require, we can provide a tailored service that suits you or your loved one – reach out to the team at Home Instead to learn more.We’re an award-winning home care provider and part of a worldwide organisation devoted to providing the highest-quality relationship-led care for older people in their own homes. Arranging care for yourself or your loved one shouldn’t be stressful, so whatever questions you would like answered, feel free to reach out to the Home Instead team to discuss your needs.