Why More Families in the UK Are Choosing Home Care Over Care Homes
Changing Expectations Around Care and Ageing in the UK
In 2015, Age UK released a report examining “how well the health and social care system was meeting the needs of older people.” Ten years later, they’ve re-examined the issue and unfortunately, instead of improving, they’ve discovered that “fewer people are getting long-term social care support, fewer key health staff are working in the community, and perhaps worst of all, we are living fewer years in good health.”
While this seems negative on the surface, choosing care at home from Helping Hands is just one of the ways that you can continue to live a higher quality of life. We offer both visiting and live-in care, from an hour at a time to around the clock. We know that most people don’t want to have to leave their homes and move into residential care, and that’s where we bring our 36 years of experience providing fully regulated home care to our customers.
The Desire to Remain at Home for Longer
You get the best of both worlds if you choose to remain at home for care and support. This is because you don’t just get the expert help that your condition requires, you also stay in familiar and comforting surroundings. You and your loved ones won’t be subject to visiting hours or schedules that aren’t your own, instead you continue your life the way you always have, and we mould our care around it. We carefully choose our carers so that they’ll always put their customers first, with kindness and compassion at heart.
Home Care vs Care Homes: Understanding the Differences
You’ll only receive personalised, one-on-one care in your own home. Due to the nature of care homes, staff have to be responsible for multiple residents; it’s impractical to expect the same level of care in residential homes as you’d get in your own home.
Personalised, One-to-One Care in the Home
Home carers work on a 1-2-1 basis, supporting their customers in their own homes. Because we keep you at the centre of your care plan, making sure you are at the centre of everything planned, you’ll never feel as if you’ve lost control of your own day-to-day routine.
Familiar Surroundings and Emotional Well-Being
Being in familiar surroundings is especially valuable for people living with dementia, as the familiarity will help them to feel less anxious and confused. Anyone can benefit from continuing to live at home though as it will certainly support emotional wellbeing.
Safety, Health Outcomes, and Avoiding Admissions
Having someone living in your home with you is the best way to ensure that your care runs seamlessly. Even if you don’t need continuous support, visiting care for an hour or two will mean you have the reassurance of someone close by every day.
Cost Considerations: Comparing the two services
Care at home is extremely competitive compared to residential care homes. You can expect to pay from £1,675 per week for a single person or from £2,125 per week for a couple. However, you really can’t put a price on staying in a place you want to be.
When Home Care Is the Right Option
Obviously, it’s really important that every person chooses the care solution that is right for them. While we really hope that you’ll agree with us that home care ticks all the boxes for keeping you as independent as possible, you and your loved ones will want to explore all the options thoroughly.
Home care is particularly suitable for a couple who both need support but wish to stay at home together, as this can work out significantly cheaper than having to fund two care home places. Your family may also feel they’re not part of your care experience if you’re living in a care home or residential facility, whereas if you’re at home, they’ll spend time in a place that means as much to them as it does to you.
Industry Leading Home Care with Helping Hands
When you trust Helping Hands with your home care, you’re joining a legacy of thousands of satisfied customers and their loved ones. We’ve been supporting people to remain comfortable at home since we were established in 1989, and you can be sure that, whatever your needs, you couldn’t be in better hands.
We choose our amazing carers very carefully as we know that it’s a privileged position to come into your home. We screen them and run every check necessary to make sure that only the right people are coming to you. They’ll be able to undertake every task you need doing, such as your housework, meal preparation, personal care, or medication. Most importantly, they’ll offer essential companionship so that you’re not at risk of loneliness or isolation.
