Home Care Vs Care Homes

The decision between joining a care home or hiring a self-employed home carer can be a difficult one. You first need to know what options are available and then decide what level of support is most appropriate.  

Ageing is a word we culturally resist. Why? Ageing isn’t a bad thing. The twilight years can bring a sense of calm from the relentless rush of modern living. In reality, we don’t resist ageing - we resist the idea of not living on our own terms. 

Living independently is not always an option the older and more frail we get. By knowing what care options are available, you can decide how to transition to assisted living as you age. 

For some, residential care will be the obvious and only answer. Care homes provide accommodation, medical and personal care for anyone who needs support during the day and overnight. It’s an expensive option but one which provides a full package of medical, social and personal care. 

Before you sign that care home contract, have you considered home care? 

Home care’s main benefit is obvious: you remain in the comfort of your own home. Living in the familiarity and safety of our own home is beneficial to our mental health and can help people to maintain a more appropriate level of independence. 

Jeanette was 84 when her forgetfulness started to become a problem. She was physically fit, but a diagnosis of dementia meant it was becoming unsafe to remain home alone. Her children worried and a care home was discussed, but the idea was frightening to Jeanette. She had friends nearby and worried about loneliness. What was her solution? Home care. 

Home carers and personal assistants can help you at home to meet your care needs. Services vary depending on need, but range from helping someone to maintain a tidy home, to medical assistance and personal care. For many, the company of a familiar carer is reassuring and makes them feel secure living independently at home. 

The decision between a nursing home, care home, residential home, assisted-living facility or a home carer may be decided for you by a medical or monetary need. For Jeanette, she felt she still had a choice. A care home might be suitable in the future, but for now hiring a self-employed hourly carer through Curam gave her many benefits. Here are some of the benefits of home care:

·    Flexibility

·    Lower costs

·    Better Mental Health 

·    Personalised Care

·    Overnight care

·    Keep in contact with friends and family 

·    Domestic help

·    Respite care 

Home care is flexible – giving you control

Relying on others can leave you feeling you have little control or choice. With Curam, you decide the time and type of care you need. Medical care, housekeeping or simply companionship can be provided on your own terms through home care. 

Home care is less expensive

Full-time residential care is expensive because it needs to be. Tally up accommodation, food, medical and care support and the bill can be extensive. If you don’t have complex medical care needs, home care could provide you all the support you need at a fraction of the cost. With Curam you only pay for the care you receive from your chosen carer and there are no extra costs, contracts or fees. 

Home care improves mental health

Familiar surroundings boost our wellbeing. We take comfort from ornaments, photos and possessions which speak to us of our happiest moments. We can physically cope better in a known environment. Got a pet? Sadly, care homes often deny the companionship of animals. By contrast, a home carer can help you navigate hazards at home, assist with daily living tasks and even walk the dog. 

Home care is tailored to your needs 

Home care is often a one-to-one care arrangement meaning that a carer can get to know your needs and lifestyle better and provide person-oriented care. A home carer can provide specialist care to help someone with a particular condition, as well as tailoring that care to the individual's specific situation, interests and preferences. It is also your choice to increase or reduce the home care services as and when you need them. 

If needed, you can also tailor your home to your needs. Alterations such as rails, mobility aids, cooking gadgets and smart technology all exist to enhance our environment and can improve the safety of your home. 

Home care can be 24-hours

Overnight carers support you when others can’t. Their presence gives you the security to sleep better, knowing there’s help available from dusk til dawn. Managing complex medical needs, providing bathroom assistance, or simply increasing security, are some of the reasons people choose overnight home carers. 

Home carers allow you to socialise

We are all social creatures in some way and isolation is detrimental to our wellbeing. Our happiness is often based on the connection we have with friends, family and social events. Driving to appointments, visiting friends and family, attending social clubs or keeping up with technology like Skype and Zoom can all be achieved with the help of a home carer. Home carers are themselves an answer to loneliness. 

Home carers can provide domestic help

There are countless daily tasks that come with living independently. Meals to prepare, dishes to wash, shopping to buy, clothes to launder, admin to sort – the list is long. A home carer can alleviate the burden of these everyday tasks, so you can pursue your own interests while still living a healthy life at home. 

Home carers can provide respite care

The line between family and carer is blurred. Loved ones often assume the role of carer, supporting and assisting a friend or family member with their care needs. It can be tiring, put a strain on relationships and be physically demanding. A respite home carer can step in and assume this care giver role to allow carers some time away from their responsibilities. With an opportunity to rest, our loves ones can return to their care responsibilities prepared and refreshed. 

We are creating a better care community and we believe great-value care comes from valuing great carers. Download the Curam app and find your perfect at-home carer.