Home care, also known as in-home care, involves an elderly or disabled person staying in their home and enjoying a degree of independence while a team of carers comes in to tend to their needs, while a care home is a residence designed for people to live in and receive all the care they need in one place. How do you choose between the two? Let us take a look at the pros and cons of both places.
Cons of Home Care
It is often the dream for families to have their matriarch or patriarch remain in the family home until they pass away, but all too often age can cause falls, illness or just a general lack of the ability to cope. And even with home carers coming into the home, if a determined older person wants to present the image of someone who is coping well, with plenty of food in the cupboard, they will manage! It is only when malnutrition or illnesses worsen that the issues become clear, and sometimes this can mean that an infection or other issues have taken their toll on the patient. Loneliness can be an issue, especially when home carers are ‘on the clock’ and must pop in, do their required tasks and get to their next call within half and hour or so.
Pros of Home Care
Home care is great for older people who are still very independent and want to stay at home. If all they need is a little help getting up and dressed in the morning, or having their meals made for them, home care is the perfect solution. Families who are close and pop in on each other can be greatly helped by having a trained carer perform such tasks as might be needed: this way there is no embarrassment or awkwardness between family members, and the older person retains their dignity and poise in front of family.
Cons of Care Home
Having to leave a home is always a wrench, and when an elderly person is leaving the home where they raised their family, achieved their ambitions, or maybe quietly put their unfulfilled dreams to rest, it can be emotionally difficult. When the elderly person is resistant, but medical professionals and other family members are in agreement that it must happen, the person can feel as though their wishes are being ignored, or as though they are an unwanted inconvenience to their family.
There are ways, however, to raise the subject and have a sensible discussion about the move to a care, especially if the elderly person is consulted at every step and ultimately makes the choice about which care home they will be going into.
Pros of Care Home
The benefits of having a frail elderly relative in a care home cannot be overstated. Knowing that they are guaranteed to be looked after and checked on regularly can provide great peace of mind. And for the elderly person who has perhaps been aware of the struggle that household tasks have become with the onset of age and infirmity, it can be a blessing to have meals cooked and basic house-keeping taken care of without feeling like an imposition. Often, being in a care home means access to safe communal areas where friendships can form. For an isolated older person who has perhaps lost touch with old friends – or simply lost them – being surrounded by people and having interests – everything from outings to crafting or gardening activities to just watching television with other – can be a literal lifesaver, providing something to stimulate their brains and keep their bodies active. Eastleigh care homes in Devon are proud to offer a full and interesting range of activities to their clients, ensuring that their mental and physical faculties are maintained for as long as possible.
