When your loved one ages, it’s natural to start thinking about their care and wellbeing. Many families across the UK are faced with a tough decision of deciding between home care or residential care for their elderly family members.
While both options have their advantages, there are many reasons why choosing home care might be the best choice for your loved one. It’s worth bearing in mind that every person is different and has their own set of individual needs and preferences. This needs to be taken into account when choosing home care over residential care.
We’ll explore whether you should use home care or residential care, as well as why you should consider choosing a home care provider such as Sova Healthcare to care for your loved one.
Your Loved One Remains In Familiar Surroundings
One of the most significant advantages of choosing home care is that your loved one can remain at home in surroundings that are familiar to them.
They can stay in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by their belongings, memories, and pets. This can be incredibly reassuring for elderly individuals who may feel anxious or stressed about moving to a new environment, particularly if they have Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Staying in their own home can help them maintain their independence and a sense of control over their life, which can have a positive impact on their mental wellbeing.
No Need To Sell Your Home
Another significant advantage of choosing home care is that there’s no need to sell your loved one’s home.
Residential care facilities can be costly and selling a home to pay for care can be a difficult decision for families. Not only do you need to work with the estate agent to get a valuation on your loved one’s property, but also all the possessions you have. Moving away from the home you’ve lived in your entire life can take an emotional toll on your family’s mental health.
Home care is often a more cost-effective option, thus allowing your loved one to receive the care they need without having to worry about selling their home.
Allows For More Independence
Home care also allows for more independence and flexibility for your loved one, particularly if you and your family members have busy lives.
With a home care service, you can fit it around both your lifestyle and schedule. This means that your elderly family member will be able to choose when to eat, sleep and take part in activities. Having the freedom to leave the house whenever they want, as well as maintain regular routines ensures that they continue to live an active and meaningful life.
Person-Centred Care That’s Personalised Around You
Another advantage of using home care is that it can be personalised around your loved one’s needs.
Every individual has their own set of needs and interests and their care should reflect that. When you choose Sova Healthcare as your home care provider, a home carer will spend time getting to know your loved one.
This means that the carer can instantly build a relationship between you, your family members and the elderly person the carer is caring for.
Maintain Relationships With Friends And Family
Staying in their own home also means that your loved one can maintain their relationships with friends and family.
They can still receive visitors and participate in social activities, helping them to stay connected to the community and avoid feelings of isolation. For example, if your family enjoys a Sunday afternoon roast, then you can continue to do so with home care.
This can have a positive impact on their overall wellbeing and mental health as there are no restrictions on the amount of time your loved one spends with friends and family.
Why Choose Sova Healthcare As Your Home Care Provider?
There are many advantages of choosing home care over residential care, particularly if you are considering the care and wellbeing of your elderly family member. As with most decisions, it’s important that you take your time when making a big decision around the type of care your loved one needs as they get older.
Sova Healthcare have carers located all across England. Whether you are based in Birmingham, Redbridge, Bradford, Halifax, Leicester or Harrogate, our designated carers will deliver outstanding care for your loved one.
If you are looking for an alternative to residential care, Sova Healthcare provides high quality, person-centred home care that’s tailored around your loved one. Speak to one of our regional teams across England today and they’ll be able to answer any questions you have about our home care services.