What are the main advantages of home care for the elderly and why should you go for home care?
Of all the different types of elderly care options available today, in-home care is perhaps the best one. If you have an elderly loved one who is struggling to keep up with the activities of daily living (ADL) and household chores, you can hire professionals to help them out. Home care not only allows older adults to live safely and gracefully in the comfort of their own home, but it also offers family members peace of mind in knowing that their loved one is taken care of. If you are on the fence about whether or not it is the right option, learning about the many advantages of home care will certainly help you decide.
Some of the biggest advantages of home care for elderly individuals
Home care is one of the most sought-after elderly care options in the UK, and it is becoming increasingly more popular every day. Home care allows you to hire professional caregivers, who will provide your elderly loved one with hands-on care and also help with the routine aspects of everyday life. Here are some of the top advantages of home care for the elderly.
Ultimate comfort
Comfort is one of the most significant advantages of home care. There is no place like home, especially as you grow old. Being able to stay in the place that you are most familiar and comfortable with makes a world of difference in the overall quality of life. Places like residential care facilities are great, but they also require making some significant lifestyle changes. If you want your elderly loved ones to carry on with their usual routine while also receiving the care they need, home care would be the ideal option.
Improved physical and mental health
You cannot discuss the advantages of home care without talking about its effects on the physical and mental well-being of the elderly. Older adults, who have trouble getting around or doing things, tend to face crippling loneliness and depression. Home care professionals not only take care of the daily chores but also offer companionship care. Furthermore, if your loved one is recovering from an illness or surgery, having home care will help them to heal faster. Overall, in-home care not only helps elderly individuals to stay physically healthy but also positively impacts their mental state.
Extended independence
No one likes losing their independence, but that is what happens to most elderly individuals once they lose their strength and the ability to do everyday things on their own. However, a little extra support can allow them to live the same life they once had. With home care, you get professional caregivers who can drive your loved ones to wherever they need to go and help them with things like buying groceries, doing dishes, cooking meals, visiting friends, and much more. Such assistance can offer your loved ones a sense of independence that will help them to remain physically and mentally active.
Personalized services
One of the biggest advantages of home care services is that they are highly customizable. Most companies offer personalized home care services to meet the specific needs of their clients while also staying within budget. For instance, if your elderly loved one only needs help with chores around the house, you can hire a professional who will help with cooking, cleaning, washing, and so on. You can also choose home care for an ailing or bedridden elderly loved one who needs more comprehensive care. The level of care and assistance determines the cost associated with home care.
Affordability
Home care costs can vary widely based on several factors such as how much care you need, when you need it (day/night or weekdays/weekends), where you live, and whether or not you have funding. While it is difficult to say exactly how much you will have to pay for home care for the elderly, you can have a rough idea of whether or not it will cost more than an assisted living facility or care home. In the UK, the average cost of home care is £15,000 a year for 14 hours of care every week. Care homes, on the other hand, cost upwards of £34,686 per year. If your loved one requires round-the-clock care by a healthcare professional, home care cost would increase significantly.
Peace of mind
It is natural for you to worry about the safety and well-being of an elderly loved one, and it does not matter if you live 10 minutes or 10 hours away from them. If you are unable to take care of them personally, you would want the next best thing. Hiring home help is exactly that. Home care professionals offer personalized, one-on-one services that you won’t find in a care home. Knowing that your loved one is well taken care of can offer you a sense of relief and peace of mind that is invaluable.
These are some of the undeniable advantages of home care for the elderly. Of course, there are many more reasons to go for in-home care instead of care homes, but it all depends on the specific circumstances of an individual.
Find the best home care services at Total Caring
If you are looking for home care services in the UK, mainly in the South London or Surrey area, you won’t find a better company than Total Caring. Being one of the top home care service providers in the country, we have been taking care of the elderly for years. Our services have been designed to offer highly personalized and customizable in-home care. Total Caring can help you or your loved one with things like daily chores, companionship, physical disability support, and mental health support. We also offer dementia care, palliative care, and end of life care.
Whether you need home help for a few hours every week or round the clock every day, Total Caring can offer you the services you need. To know more about our services and our charges, give us a call or drop us an email with your query today!
