Home care or care home: which is right for your loved one?
Home care and residential care both provide support from professional carers. If you’re wondering ‘home care or care home: which is right for your loved one?’, then this blog post is for you. Read on to discover the main benefits and drawbacks of residential vs home care in Christchurch, so that you can make the right decision for your family.
Home care vs care home
Most people looking for care choose to have support at home or move into a residential care setting. While both of these options provide professional care support, there are some key differences.
Benefits of home care
One of the key benefits of home care is that it allows for highly personalised care. We believe that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to caring. The beauty of home care is that it can be tailored to your loved one’s specific needs, giving them more control over the care they receive and giving you more contact with the care team that supports them. After all, good care is also about providing companionship and requires regular effective communication.
Compared to residential care, homecare also provides a greater degree of flexibility, and the level of support can be adjusted as needed depending on changing circumstances. Additionally, home care ensures your loved one remains in a familiar environment, surrounded by memories and the comforts of their home. This can be particularly beneficial for people with dementia, where a change in routine can be extremely unsettling.
Overall, home care can better support your loved one’s independence, is surprisingly more cost-effective, and thoroughly benefits their health and wellbeing.
Home care drawbacks
One of the main difficulties of home care is finding a home care provider that’s right for you and your family. It’s important to consider the standard and type of care, the transparency of the care company and the compatibility of the carers. Our experienced carers are dedicated to delivering top-notch care while building long-lasting relationships. We value open communication and transparent pricing. Above all, we’re committed to caring for your family as though they were our own.
Benefits of a care home
Residential care in a care home provides round-the-clock support for those with long-term physical and mental health problems. It makes an excellent choice for people who require constant care, as there are always care staff on hand. While care homes do not always provide one-to-one companionship from a carer, there are other residents to befriend, as well as organised activities to engage in. Finally, care homes are regulated and comply with care sector standards, so you can rest assured the quality meets the standard of care offered.
Care home drawbacks
Unlike home care, residential care means that your loved one will move into an unfamiliar environment. For some people, particularly those with dementia, this can be daunting and overwhelming. In addition, care is not necessarily tailored to individuals. Typically, a team of carers look after several people. There is also less flexibility as rules are set to ensure the safety of all residents. This may mean set meal times, restrictions on visiting hours and no pets.
Decision time: what’s right for you?
We recognise that choosing between home care and a care home is a big decision. While it is ultimately up to you to decide what is right for your family, we hope we have provided some useful information to help you make an informed choice. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your loved one receives the care and support they need for their health and wellbeing, and to thrive.
Get in touch
If you or your loved one have any questions about home care, please do not hesitate to get in touch or telephone us on 01202 800 494. We are more than happy to answer any of your questions.