Our society offers numerous options for caring for the elderly. However, if you’re just starting to look at the options available to you, it can be easy to get lost in the jargon, get caught up in confusing differences, and navigate through the options to figure out what works best for you. Home care, care homes, and assisted living; here we are going to explain what they are and their differences so you can make more informed decisions.
Home care
Those who need care later in life sometimes start out with home care to ease the transition, but even in the early stages, many people may not need full-time care just yet. Home care is just that; The care that you receive at home, whether from a family member or a professional, the home provides an opportunity for people to stay comfortable and familiar in their own home while getting the help they need. In some cases, it may be a carer who comes two or three times a week to help with household chores; Maybe it’s a medic reviewing ongoing minor medical issues or even social calls that add that extra touch to later life. So, helpers come with costs, of course, but they can start quite sensibly and of course, it makes sense to only pay for the care you need, which makes home care very flexible for people.
Assisted Living
Assisted living or assisted living has become very widespread in recent years: if home care is the first and a care home is the third, this is undoubtedly the second. You have a great ability to take care of yourself, but you need a certain amount of attention. Assisted living is a way for people to get on with managing their own lives with a just-in-case support system. In addition, it brings the social aspect of care homes into small blocks of flats or special developments are the most common, with managers and staff in the area available to manage the care required.
For many older people, isolation is a major obstacle, and assisted living counteracts this. As a residential community with help at hand, this type of initial resident setup bridges the gap between home care and care homes, and its popularity as a transition option is growing. The residents own their own property, lead their daily life as if they were outside the community, but still feel that they are in a care structure that is available when needed.
Care Home
A person begins to need full-time care, then home care and assisted living can become a significant cost, and this is probably where the next of these three on our list comes in. They can no longer fully or partially take care of themselves.
Round-the-clock care and attention, or even just a 24/7 watchful eye, may be required to ensure a good quality of life. Care homes have a social element in their design that home care does not have. Being among their peers, with activities and facilities available to them, offers countless people a lot of joy and inspiration in later life a diverse and in-depth program for our residents so that life in the care home is more than just care.
Unlike assisted living, care homes can provide residents with furnished rooms, meals, housekeeping, and laundry services. All of which is included within a monthly fee. Individuals can have access to on-site facilities such as hair salons, cafes, and gardens as well as opportunities to use amenities in the local community.
Residents can expect to have regular social activities organised for them and day trips out into the community. Regular visits from entertainers, reminiscence experts, GPs, dentists, physiotherapists, and other providers can be arranged.
Specialist care facilities can be provided to support those with conditions such as dementia, alcohol dependence, etc.
If you are struggling to make a decision, care homes can offer emergency, respite, short-term, long-term care, and even palliative care to older people.
Whatever your needs, Serene Care is happy to help you make the best decision for yourself or a loved one.
