Disability care for older people at home

Learn about disability care for older people at home

Many older adults require disability care from either family members or professional carers in order to live independently and maintain a positive quality of life. Here, we are looking at what exactly disability care is, the most common types of disability in older adults, how disability care is funded, the different types of care available, why home-based disability care is often better, who benefits most from disability care, and how to arrange it for a loved one. 

At Home Instead, our aim is to help people age positively and in place by bringing expert care to their home. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing the highest standard of care, and creating industry-leading training programmes for our Care Professionals that are accredited by nursing and medical professionals. Today, we are the world’s largest global domiciliary care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about disability care, we can help. 

What are the most common disabilities in older adults?

Older adults tend to experience more health issues than younger people do. A natural biological decline is thought to be associated with a 1-2% decline in functional ability per year, so older adults may also develop more disabilities than younger age groups. Some of the most common disabilities in those aged 65+ include: 

• Mobility issues (affecting around 64% of older adults) – This could be difficulty walking or climbing stairs, and could be a result of a condition like osteoporosis, which weakens bones.
• Stamina, breathing or fatigue-related conditions (affecting around 13% of older adults) – Examples of conditions like these include things like heart disease, which could limit a person’s physical activity and endurance, or respiratory disorders like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can affect breathing. 
• Dexterity issues (affecting around 35% of older adults) – This could be, for example, an arthritis condition causing joint pain and affecting movement in the hands.
• Memory conditions (affecting around 13% of older adults) – This could be a cognitive impairment such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
• Hearing issues (affecting around 16% of older adults) – Difficulty hearing can have major impacts on daily life whether hearing loss is mild or severe.
• Vision problems (affecting around 13% of older adults) – This could be conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration.
• Mental health challenges (affecting around 13% of older adults) – This could be a mental health condition such as depression, provided it leads to substantial, adverse and long-term effects on one’s ability to carry out normal daily activities.

It is important to remember people with disabilities often have double the risk of developing a comorbid condition such as asthma, diabetes or stroke, according to the World Health Organization. 

Who pays for disability home care?

In the UK, disability home care can be funded through a combination of sources, with a person’s local authority typically covering the cost for anyone whose Care Needs Assessment has found they meet the eligibility criteria to require disability care. This type of care is means-tested, meaning the person’s financial situation will be reviewed and, if able, they may need to contribute towards the cost of their care. Some people may need to (or choose to) self-fund their care, depending on their individual circumstances. People needing disability care may also receive financial support through benefits such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment. Carers could also get help with vehicles, transport, housing, employment, VAT relief on certain goods and services, and more, so it is certainly worth looking into what financial help you could be entitled to. You may find the gov.uk website Benefits Calculator helpful to find out what you could apply for. You may also find more information about some of these benefits in our guide to financial benefits for pensioners.

Why is disability care best at home? 

Disability care is often best at home instead of in a care home as it provides a familiar and comfortable environment for the person who needs care, promoting better emotional wellbeing, consistent routines based on their preferences, and more independence, which can foster a sense of normality and control. 

Some of the other benefits of having disability care take place at home include:

• Care can be completely personalised to the person’s own needs and environment
• Care can be a one-on-one arrangement as opposed to carers being shared between multiple clients, as might happen in a care home, and can foster a stronger client-carer bond 
• Family members and loved ones can be more involved in care and visit on a regular basis, which can enhance emotional support and social connections
• There is less risk of complications such as infections, which are often associated with hospital or care home settings
• It is easier to promote dignity and respect for the person when care takes place within their own environment 
• The person receiving care can set their own routines and have more control and flexibility over their daily and weekly activities, as opposed to being bound by set care home routines 
• The person can have more connection with their community when receiving care at home, as carers can organise activities and outings that may not be possible when staying in a care home 
• Home care may offer more financial peace of mind than paying for a long-term place in a care home

What types of disability care are available? 

Disability care at home can be entirely personalised to the individual’s needs, so it can encompass a number of areas of care. If personal care is needed, this can be arranged and can help with daily activities such as bathing, getting dressed and going to the bathroom. Disability care often requires some element of specialist medical care, which may involve nurses or therapists visiting the home. If trained to do so, a professional carer could help with certain elements of this care, such as medication management or wound care.

Respite care will also be required if either familial carers or professional carers need time off for holidays, breaks, or to attend events. This can offer temporary relief to the primary caregiver, but can also have a number of benefits for the person receiving care too. Other in-home support options are available to help maintain the person’s independence, such as help with meal preparation and cooking, or assistance with household tasks.

All types of care can usually be offered as either visiting part-time care, visiting full-time care, or live-in care.

How should disability care be brought up with a loved one?

If you are looking to arrange disability care for an older loved one, this can sometimes be a difficult conversation to bring up with them, and will require a level of sensitivity and empathy – remember, you may be suggesting taking away some of their independence and having a stranger visit their home. While some will see the benefits straight away and look forward to having more help to ease their physical or mental burden, others may see this as a negative thing, or that they are on the road to becoming completely reliant on someone else. 

It is important to remind them this is not necessarily the case, and they may be able to ease into a care arrangement slowly by introducing a few hours of care a week to help with difficult tasks. Reassure them that the aim of disability care is to provide assistance while continuing to promote their independence, so receiving care does not mean any of their choices or control will be taken away from them. 

Ultimately, it is important to discuss with them the areas they are struggling with, and express any concerns you have for their safety and wellbeing. Make sure they understand that a disability care arrangement can enhance their quality of life, not diminish it. The more involved they are in the decision-making process, the better they might feel about putting care in place.

How is disability home care arranged? 

When a decision has been made about the type of care needed, you can begin by speaking to a GP, and arranging a Care Needs Assessment to see what kind of support you could receive. If you choose to look for a private home care agency to help match you with the ideal carer to provide disability care, take time to research reputable home care agencies offering the services you need. To do this, ask about the training their carers receive, the experience they have, the certifications they offer their staff, and ask any other questions you have to put your mind at ease about organising care. 

At Home Instead, we can offer personalised disability care that takes into account the person’s individual needs, preferred schedule, daily routine, and more. We pay great attention to matching each of our clients with a Care Professional we believe could be an excellent fit for them based on their skills, training, experience and personality. 

You can read more about how to look into home care in our guide to choosing and arranging home care services. If you would like to learn more about what we can offer you or your loved one, reach out to your local Home Instead office for a chat. No matter what type of home care you are looking for, we can provide a tailored service that suits you.

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.