Home Care vs Residential Care
If you are currently assessing care options, whether for yourself or a loved one, you are going to have a variety of different solutions at your disposal. One of the main factors you need to consider is whether to go for in home care or whether to opt for residential care, which would involve moving into a care home. This can be a difficult decision for anyone. Often, people assume that the only way to get the level of care they need is to move into a residential unit. However, home care has improved dramatically over the years, with everything from dementia care to disability care available from the comfort of your own house. A lot of people prefer this because it means they get to stay in their own home and maintain their independence. Of course, it all comes down to personal preference and your individual set of circumstances. Nevertheless, in this blog post, we are going to take a look at both options in further detail so you can understand the pros and cons associated with each. This should help you to determine what sort of solution is going to be right for you. It is important to realise that there is no right or wrong answer; it is all about you and your needs.
The differences in terms of the care and support you will receive
Of course, the main thing that needs to be considered when selecting care services is the level of support you are going to receive. This is one of the great things about going for home care; your care plan is going to be completely tailored to suit you and your needs. After all, the carer or team of carers that are going to be visiting you are there for you and your needs alone. This means that they can completely tailor their services to suit your individual requirements. Plsu, these sorts of carers tend to offer a vast assortment of different services that you can benefit from, including social support, personal care, and domestic assistance. No matter whether you need assistance with taking medication or you need help completing tasks around the home, you will be able to rely on a home carer to do exactly what you are going to need.
In terms of residential care, this tends to be well suited to an older person who is going to need intensive on-goign help. However, it is worth pointing out that there is the option of having a live-in carer. Nevertheless, when it comes to residential care units, you can choose between permanent care and short-term care. The latter is also known as residential respite care. It is designed for those who need assistance on a short-term basis only. This could be because you only need care while you are recovering from a certain injury or it could be because your usual carer is going on holiday or has other commitments, for example. One of the major drawbacks when it comes to residential care facilities is that there is going to be a lower degree of flexibility. After all, there are going to be other people that are residing in the care unit and so they are all going to have their needs and requirements too. Because of this, you cannot expect to have the full level of attention and customisation in regards to your care as you would if you were to invest in home care services.
Your happiness, health and independence
There are so many factors that need to be considered when determining whether or not you should go for home care services or whether you should move into a care home. However, there is no denying that the number one thing you need to take into account is your happiness. After all, this is the most important thing, right? You are not going to want to do something that is going to make you miserable.
We cannot tell you what is going to make you happy. This is something that only you can figure out. You need to think about what you what you want from your life. You also need to think about what life experience you are going to have with both care solutions. If you are someone that wants to have the comfort of their own home, then you should definitely look into the live in care option. This is something that will enable you to have the freedom to enjoy your hobbies as well. Live in carers can provide a great source of companionship and they can ensure that you get out and about so that you remain healthy.
Of course, moving into a care home is something that you may like the sound of. While there is no denying that this does not appeal to a lot of people, everyone is different. You may like the sound of meeting new people and having different individuals to interact with on a daily basis, including different carers. Of course, for a lot of people, this seems more of a negative than a positive. Moving into a care unit with a lot of different people could end up being a great source of anxiety.
This is why it is all about figuring out what is going to work for you and what is going to make you happy. In terms of your health, we have already discussed how a carer can ensure you get out and about and that you still enjoy the hobbies that you once used to enjoy. In a care home, you may still be able to enjoy hobbies and do different things too. This all depends on the care home you choose and the hobbies you enjoy. If you are leaning towards this option, you should enquire about the different activities that they have going on and how they are going to make sure you get to enjoy your hobbies and that you get the exercise you need. In terms of independence, though, it is fair to say that this is definitely something you will get with live in care yet many people think their independence is stripped away from them when it comes to care homes and units.
Care options in regards to life stage
As mentioned, when choosing between live in care services and moving into a residential unit it is all about determining what is going to be right for you. There are so many different factors that are going to come into play. This does not only include your budget and your personal preference but also whether you have family nearby and their thoughts on the matter. In addition to this, your age and your individual needs are also going to need to be taken into consideration.
For an older person who wants to enjoy the independence and security that comes with living in their own property, as well as the undeniable comfort, the services that are provided by in home care companies can offer the most suitable and personalised support at the stage in their life. This enables a lot of older people to live the life they have always dreamed of. They can have the comfort of their own home and the independence to enjoy the things they still want to enjoy. However, at the same time, they are going to have a friendly and familiar face there to help them with whatever they need, whether this is help getting ready or you require assistance with meal preparation.
What about residential care units? When are these the most suitable options? This tends to increasingly focus on people that are reaching the end of their lives. In fact, in accordance with a report that was published last year, i.e. the Funding and Financing of the Aged Care Sector, it was revealed that 84.6 years is now the average age for someone to be admitted into a residential care unit. Plus, this is a figure that is only expected to get bigger and bigger in the upcoming years, and so this signals that more and more people are only opting to move tino residential care units for the very last few years of their lives because they want to be in their homes for as long as possible.
How much will both options cost me?
Of course, we would all have to like unlimited budgets. However, the reality is very different, and so cost considerations have to come into play when deciding between live in care services and a residential care unit. There have been a number of different studies that have been conducted into the expenses associated with both options. It is believed that the average cost to enter a residential care unit in Australia is an unbelievable $350,000. In some cases, this can rise to $500,000. This is something that a lot of people would not be able to afford. This is why a lot of people end up having to sell their homes in order to move into a care home, which can be very upsetting for a lot of people. The truth is that no matter what option you go for, there are a number of factors that are going to dictate the expense. This includes everything from where in Australia you are located to the level of care and specialist care services you are going to require. You are going to need to assess your finances carefully to determine what you can afford. You are also going to need to determine where you are going to get the money needed to fund your care. You will want to look into the prospect of government help too. You may be eligible for this. This is where a family member can help. They can sort this with you so that you can determine how much everything is going to cost and what the best option is going to be for you financially.
What option is the most popular?
Of course, everyone is different and so you should not choose something just because everyone else is doing so. It is vital to consider your individual care needs and to pick something based on this. Nevertheless, it does certainly help to look at statistics because it can fill you with confidence and give you a good understanding regarding the way that the industry is going.
The statistics are pretty clearcut. There was a study conducted by the Australian government that said 83 per cent of people that are aged 60-years-old or older would prefer to stay in their own home. It is not hard to see why this is the case. The main reason why people want to stay in their own home is so that they can maintain a level of independence while still getting the care and help that they need from professionals. Moreover, moving to a new place can be a massive upheaval and this is something that can cause a lot of worry and anxiousness in people. You also need to consider the fact that most people will have worked hard their whole life in order to purchase the home that they are living in and so they do not want to let it go this easily. Thanks to home care services, they do not have to.
The same study that was just mentioned, which was published in the Housing Decisions of Older Australians research paper, also revealed that only six per cent of those interviewed said that they would prefer to live in a retirement village once over the age of 60-years-old. Moreover, there was only a mere one per cent of people interviewed said they would prefer to live in a residential care unit. So, when it comes to popularity, it is clear to see that there is an evident winner. This probably won;t come as a surprise. However, you may have anticipated that a higher number of people may have been happy to move into a residential care unit so that they could be around others and benefit from specialist help. Nevertheless, the lure of that really is minute and pales in comparison to the prospect of living at home and still getting the care that you need.
It is your decision…
Of course, we have compared all of the main points that there are to do with both live in care and home care units. We hope that this has helped to give a good comparison of the two. As you can see, more and more people are turning towards live in care today. However, when assessing your options, it is vital to remember that it is all about you and what is going to be right for you and your needs. It is about what makes you comfortable and makes you happy. It is about ensuring you get the support and care you need. So you need to think about what you want from your life and what provides this. Once you have made your mind up, you are then going to need to do your research on the different care homes and carers in your area, depending on your ultimate decision. You will need to narrow down your options carefully. Check everything from experience to reading the reviews that have been left by others. Do not jump into your decision.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding as to whether or not home care or residential care is the right solution for you. A lot of people and their families have assumed that the only way to get specialist care, like palliative care and disability care, is to opt for a residential care unit. However, this could not be further from the truth. There are so many different types of aged care home care packages offered today, including domiciliary care, respite care, disability private care, personal care, and much more. Therefore, when it comes to assessing your options, it is all about determining what is going to be right for you and your loved one. You want to make sure that they have a form of elderly care that makes them feel comfortable. After all, a lot of older people can feel like their independence is being stripped away from them when moving into a care home, and this is why they prefer home care. Needless to say, no matter what option you choose, you still need to choose a care provider carefully to ensure exceptional standards.
