Making the choice between a nursing home and care at home
Considering the type of care you or your loved one would most benefit from can be a difficult choice to make. It can be a confusing time, trying to decide on what option would be best, and weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of nursing home care for the elderly. If you’re researching care homes there are a lot of elements to consider. Moving into a care home is a major step to take and involves changing your lifestyle. But there are other options to consider.
Advantages of home care
Home care means that you or your loved one will receive care in the familiar surroundings of your own home. This could be hourly visiting care for a couple of hours a week, or it could be a more intensive level of live-in care, where a carer will be there around the clock. The advantages of in home care include:
- Familiar surroundings – The most important aspect of care in your own home is the fact that you or your loved one will be surrounded by their own comforts, their own bed, their favourite mug, the neighbours they’ve known for years. This especially helps with progressive conditions that affect the memory such as dementia.
- Personalised care – You or your loved one will receive a personalised nursing care plan that is tailored to your needs as well as how you live your everyday life, so you can continue to live as you normally would but with that extra support when needed.
- Home health care – A personal care plan can means more dedicated time considering your health. The advantages of home health care are boundless. Recovery time is quicker, pain levels reduced, and most importantly the flexibility to recover at your own pace in familiar surroundings.
- More independence – Loss of independence can be a worrying factor when considering care options. But one of the main advantages of in home care is keeping the independence that you already have, and choosing to get up, eat, sleep, and socialise when you want to. A carer can even assist you on outings so that you gain more independence as a result of using a home care agency.
- Family participation – A significant advantage of home care is the opportunity for your family and friends to be a larger part of your care plans.
Choosing a nursing home – some things to consider
If you’re considering the option of a nursing home, you may want to evaluate whether it is the right option for you. When choosing a care home you may want to consider:
- The care home’s most recent inspection report – This report will flag up any concerning facts about the care home on its facilities and staff.
- Location – Is the nursing home close enough to your family and support network so that you or your loved one does not feel isolated?
- Visiting hours – Is there a specific window where your family and friends can visit or is it more flexible?
- Flexibility – How responsive are the staff to individual’s needs and routines? Would they expect you to work around their routine?
Advantages of home care nursing from Helping Hands
At Helping Hands we pride ourselves on focussing on our customer’s individual needs and independence, by providing bespoke care in the home. Our carers communicate with their customers to consider how they can adhere to their daily routine whilst helping them with their household tasks, such as making meals, with health care, and with good companionship.
Our team of expert carers endeavour to offer our customers bespoke care plans. We are adaptable to the needs of our customers, and we want you and your family to dictate the type of care that you require in your home. This could be medically focussed to help with a pre-existing condition, or help around the house with tasks that have become more difficult. Whatever care at home you require, our team at Helping Hands can provide you with care in your own home from leading home care experts.
Learn more about the advantages of home care services at Helping Hands – rely on us to provide you with care in your own home to fit around your lifestyle.