Benefits of Home Care

Help to retain independence

It is a common misconception that people who need homecare are no longer able to care for themselves. Whilst most of our home care clients require a package of care comprising several hours each day due to a significant deterioration in their health, a large number have found that routine tasks have become more difficult to complete on their own as they have aged and therefore require a helping hand.

Home help

Our 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

We support many individuals with shopping and running errands as pushing a trolley, carrying shopping bags and unpacking groceries can become difficult as people age.

Personal care

Due to a reduction in mobility and flexibility, many of our clients require assistance to wash their backs, lower legs and feet. The same can be said about dressing and other forms of personal care. Our fully trained carers can facilitate this multiple times a week.

Medication support

Many clients are unable to see well enough or have the dexterity in their fingers to handle small tablets and our caregivers can assist, prompt and even administer medications on behalf of our clients. For these clients, a couple of one hour visits a week is all they need to overcome these challenges.

Pet care

Older adults are often isolated and have feelings of loneliness, particularly when their loved ones live so far away. It is widely reported there are several health benefits of owning a pet, and some of the people we support do have pets. Our Care Professionals can help with pet care when people are unable to look after their pets themselves.

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.

Home Instead prides itself on delivering quality, relationship-led and consistent care which is why our minimum visit time is an hour. Any interaction with a Home Instead carer will reduce feelings of loneliness, but many people aren’t aware that we also offer a standalone companionship service should the need arise.

Our companionship clients tend to ask for a couple of weekly visits from a Care Professional who can drive 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 their caregivers, play boardgames, reminisce over a cup of tea or coffee and look through a memory book and photo albums.

Emotional support

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

Eating

Individuals 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 Care Professionals enjoy cooking with, or for, clients.

Drinking

Encouraging hydration is pivotal, particularly for the most vulnerable in our society. Having regular visits from our carers who will encourage hydration is great for an energy boost and vital for reducing the likelihood of UTIs and dehydration in hot weather.

Increased safety and potential reduction in falls

A qualified care at home 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

Care packages are tailored around our clients’ needs, be it for one hour a week or 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, providing you with peace of mind that your loved one is taken care of with the utmost professionalism and quality. Our care packages can also be amended at any time should the need arise for additional care.

Complex care needs

As time goes by, many of our clients’ cognitive and physical needs change and, for those clients we can provide a full package of care to support with complex care. Our homecare professionals are trained to meet a wide range of needs and support people with many conditions. We can provide several visits a day, full day-care, 24-hour care and live-in care at home.

Relieves pressure on family members

Family caregivers often contact us when they are exhausted and require respite care for their loved ones. Often, they are working a full-time job, have their own interests, and are responsible for running their own home which can cause significant mental, emotional and mental strain when they are caring for their loved ones at the same time. Having regular visits from trusted home care professionals relieves them of the practical tasks meaning that when they can spend time with their loved ones, it is quality time they can enjoy together.