Alternative to care homes
Care in your own home - the best alternative to care homes
Specialist care in your home gives you bespoke, one-to-one support from an expert carer.
When the need for extra support arises, many believe the only option is a nursing home or residential care home. But there is a real alternative: specialist care in your home from a fully trained carer.
At Helping Hands, we provide the full range of care services in the home, from the round-the-clock support of live-in care through to visiting support when you need it most. By choosing Helping Hands over a care home, there’s one unique difference: constant care and companionship from a carer who’s completely dedicated to you.
The benefits of receiving care at home
Home care offers a number of unique benefits that residential care simply can’t give you.
We’ve been caring for people in their own homes for three decades. From our many years of experience, we firmly believe that if you want to stay at home to receive care, you can, regardless of where you are in the country or the condition you’re affected by. You don’t have to move into a residential care home, but can instead enjoy the multiple benefits of opting for a home care service over a care home.
Stay in the home you love
Stay in the environment you’re most familiar with, surrounded by familiar furnishings, fond memories and maybe even a furry friend
Receive one-to-one support
With care at home, you’ll receive one-to-one support that can be nurse-led and is designed around your specific needs and preferences
Keep up your normal routines
Home care allows you to maintain your daily rituals and routines, such as eating your favourite meals and going to bed at the times that you like
Enjoy your favourite hobbies
Whether it’s watching your favourite TV shows, painting or gardening – your carer is there to support you to continue all your favourite hobbies
Have ongoing companionship
Ongoing companionship from a friendly, compassionate carer who fits best in your life and who’s chosen by you
See family and friends
Unlike in a care home, your loved ones can visit whenever you choose – and your carer can also help you visit them, if you wish to
Amazing carers, offering quality home care
We are committed to looking after our carers as much as we are looking after our customers. Being a carer is more than just a job.
Condition-led care
Every Helping Hands carer is fully trained to support people with a wide range of conditions.
Whether you’re living with a type of dementia, are recovering from surgery, or are simply experiencing age-related frailty, we’ll be able to provide you with a care plan that fully supports you. Our friendly and professional carers can even offer the same nurse-led support that you receive in a care home – whether that’s assistance with catheters, stomas, PEG feeding, and much more.
What are the alternatives to a care home?
We believe that live-in care is the best alternative to a care home, because it gives you or your loved one the opportunity to retain your independence whilst receiving the dedicated one-to-one support you need. With live-in care, you’ll have a full-time carer living in your home with you and providing you with personalised care day and night.
Visiting care
Offering you a suitable type and level of care that allows you to keep living independently in your own home
Moving in with family
Leaving your home and living with a relative who will give companionship and help out with your daily routine
Sheltered housing
The person needing care will either buy or rent a small apartment in a supervised block
Retirement villages
Housing developments designed specifically for elderly care, usually supervised by an on-site warden
Is home care good value for money?
The multiple benefits of home care make it excellent value for money.
Through our 30 years’ experience of carefully matching trained carers with our customers across the country, we’ve seen first-hand the difference it’s made to their health – both physically and mentally. As such, we believe that care in your own home is a better value alternative to care homes. There are many benefits to opting for a home care service over a care home; here are just a handful:
| Live-in care from Helping Hands from £1,779 per week | Nursing care home, £960 per week |
| Stay in the comfort of your own home, with nurse-led support if needed | Move to a new, unfamiliar environment |
| Personal, one-to-one attention from your chosen carer | Rotation of carers who are responsible for many residents |
| Keep your existing lifestyle and daily routines | Change of lifestyle, with eating and activities at set times |
| Pets can stay with you at home | Rules vary for pets |
| Choose what you eat and when you eat | Set menu and regimented meal times |
Read about how home care is helping others
In the 35 years we’ve been providing home care, we’ve helped tens of thousands of our customers to live more independently and confidently in their own homes. Here you can read about some of our customers’ experiences of receiving care at home.
A more personal service than a nursing home
With one-to-one support at home, you’re always at the centre of your carer’s attention.
In a nursing home or elderly care home, you are one of the many people receiving care. Staff rotation is common, which makes it difficult for residents to benefit from individual attention or build a rapport with those providing care.
Consistency is hugely important in any form of care. Unlike care homes and many home care agencies, we don’t rotate our carers. It means our customers build a relationship with their carer and the carer really starts to understand and listen to their needs – resulting in a more person-centred, bespoke care service.
Your options for home care
We offer nurse-led home care on both a visiting and live-in care basis to suit your needs.
Vistiing care involves having regular calls throughout the week at times that suit your routine and your needs. Our visiting care is fully flexible around your preferences.
Visits from 30 minutes
Tailored care
Your independence supported
With live-in care, you’ll have one of our wonderful carers living in your home with you, supporting your independence and helping you to adapt to your circumstances.
All-round support
A trusted companion
Carer matched to you
How to arrange care in your home
Speak to our team
Call our team of experts on 0330 037 6958 to discuss your options and ask us any questions
Free home care assessment
Your local Helping Hands manager will visit you to discuss your requirements and learn about the type of carer you’re after
Find your carer
We’ll help to match you with a carer who meets your preferences and has the right skills and experience for your needs
Fully regulated by the CQC / CIW
Here at Helping Hands, our home care services are fully managed and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Every step of our home care is independently regulated and monitored, ensuring that every service we offer is delivered in line with industry standards and protocols.
What does regulation mean?
Our service is regularly monitored, inspected and regulated by an independent body
Why do we choose to be regulated?
We know that being regulated gives you, the customer, full peace of mind about your care
How does regulation affect my care?
Independent regulation ensures that every aspect of your care is being undertaken properly
Care home alternatives FAQs
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What are the alternatives to a care home?
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There are a number of alternatives to moving into a residential care home, including:
Live-in home care – where a full-time carer lives with you in your home to provide support at all times, maintaining your independence.
Sheltered housing – owning or renting your own property in a supervised block, often overseen by an on-site warden.
Retirement villages – housing developments specifically for the elderly, that are also supervised by an on-site warden.
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How much does live-in care cost compared to nursing homes?
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Care home costs up to £1,041 per week according to Which?. For this price, you will live in supervised accommodation alongside other residents to a fixed timetable.
Live-in care starts from £1,779 per week and allows you to remain in your own home and community – receiving the bespoke level of support you require to remain independent at home.
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What is the difference between care at home and residential care?
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With residential care, you move out of your home and community and enter supervised living accommodation, alongside other elderly people. You are likely to receive support from a variety of different carers and have a fixed timetable, such as mealtimes and bedtimes.
With care at home, you maintain your current lifestyle without having to move. You will also receive one-to-one support from a dedicated carer to continue living happily and independently at home on your terms.
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How do I arrange care at home?
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To arrange home care, simply call us today to discuss your care needs and let us know when you need them to start. Our friendly customer support team will always be happy to assist with any queries you may have about the our care services.
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How much is live-in care per week?
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Live-in care from Helping Hands starts from £1,779 per week for a couple, and £1,779 for a single person.
Page reviewed by Carole Kerton-Church, on July 25, 2024.
How we wrote this page
This page has been produced referencing key insights and data from external experts, trusted medical sources and our team of in-house specialists. We have worked hard to ensure that all information is as accurate as possible and reflects current consensus at the time of writing and reviewing.