We all know that as a person gets older, they need help to do things they used to manage perfectly well on their own. The solution to these senior care needs can take many forms, and there are a number of options to choose from. There are, of course, advantages and disadvantages with all of the options and it usually comes down to the personal preference of the elderly person or their relatives in deciding which option is best. However, it is always best to be well-informed before making a decision because some care choices are not well-known in some parts of the country, but are available, and may well prove to be the most suitable type for some people.
Research from The Live-In Care Hub in their Better At Home Report has revealed overwhelming evidence that people prefer to be cared for in their own home rather than move to a residential care home or nursing home. This is called live-in care where a trained carer goes to live with the elderly person needing care in their own home, and it is becoming more widely known as the best type of care for all concerned.
This type or round the clock care avoids the need to move an elderly person from a home they have probably lived in for many years if not decades into a single room within a residential care facility. Clearly this necessitates disposing of many, many personal items that simply won’t fit in one room. Paintings, photos, books, ornaments, a favourite armchair may all need to be disposed of. And if the person has a pet – well, very few care homes allow pets.
Live-in care jobs are becoming more popular with carers too as they have the time to do a better job, which is more satisfying and rewarding for them.
But let’s take a look at all the care options available fr elderly people so you can make your own mind up:
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are a good option if a person has medical needs that must be attended to as well as more typical personal care needs such as help with dressing, eating, bathing and going to the toilet. They are suitable when the medical needs are more than simply help with taking medication, which a normal care home or live-in carer could handle easily.
Residential Care Homes
Residential care homes are often the first thought when an elderly person becomes too frail to cope at home on their own. They provide for all care needs and often provide a social aspect to a person’s life as they will be living and eating in a communal environment. However, they do require a person to leave their own home – often meaning leaving behind beloved pets, friends and neighbours.
Live-in Care or Home Care
Live-in care, also known as Home Care, is where a qualified carer will live with an elderly person in their own home and provide them with 24/7 care. This is becoming an increasingly popular option as many people want to remain in their own homes with familiar surroundings as they get older.
Domiciliary Care
Domiciliary care is where a person stays in their own home but receives care at home from a qualified carer who comes sometimes several times a day. The carer would typically come in the morning to help the elderly person get out of bed, wash and dress, and have breakfast. They might also prepare lunch and dinner, help the person to eat and help them back into bed at night. They can also help with shopping, picking up prescriptions and sometimes light housework, depending on an individual’s needs
