Find out how you can maintain your independence with the help of a qualified live-in carer working with you in your home.
Anyone who has help with care in any capacity will highly value the fact it brings a higher level of independence, companionship and quality of life, especially to elderly people. When you are in a elderly care home, or in assisted living or having live-in care at home, independence is so important in relation to leading a contented and happy later life.
When you do not have independence, you might feel worthless, depressed or even wonder what you have to contribute to your community and the world anymore. You may have reduced expectations of the kind of life you can lead, and eventually doubt your own abilities to care for yourself.
These kinds of feelings can lead to a deterioration of both physical and mental health and overall happiness, and may even increase your risk of certain diseases and mental health disorders.
Those Most At Risk Of Loneliness
In the UK, those who are single or widowed are most at risk of being lonely, along with those in poor health or with self-described ‘limiting’ conditions. Widowed homeowners with long term health conditions are one of the most ‘at risk’ groups when it comes to loneliness and the consequent deterioration in health that can be the result.
Unfortunately residential care homes do not necessarily offer a solution to loneliness for their older residents. According to independent charity research into care homes, new residents can often feel isolated and struggle to adjust to their new lives away from all that is familiar to them: neighbours, friends, relatives and their community. They may be surrounded by other people of a similar age but still be lonely because they don’t know the other residents or may have nothing in common with them.
Are Homecare Services A Solution?
Homecare services and assisted living offers a solution to loneliness and a lack of independence. Carers who are experienced in providing at-home care are there to provide personal care, help with maintaining the home, with cooking, and with various other tasks individual to your needs. Your carer will also help you by enhancing your independence in a multitude of ways including:
- Bringing your awareness to or actually taking you to relevant clubs and groups where you can meet up with new people and people you already know in your community.
- Helping you get to friends and family for visits or preparing your home for visits from your loved ones.
- Providing physiotherapy and exercise to ensure you are as mobile as possible. Also encouraging you when you most need it to get up and about.
- Suggesting mobility aids and home adjustments to enhance independence in the home
- Taking you to appointments, to the shops and out to enjoy scenery or places you once loved to visit
Your carer will also provide dedicated companionship every day, so you’ll never go a day without chatting to someone.
How To Get Care At Home
If you would like a carer in the home to enhance your independence and help you thrive, rather than simply ‘get by’, the first step is talking to a GP, social worker or friend or family member about getting a care assessment. This will help you get an idea of the kind of care you need, and the kind of financial aid you might be entitled to with a means assessment. You may also wish to have a look at the Care Funding Guidance booklet for information on different kinds of care, including a care calculator.
