Home Care vs Care Home – The Right Choice for Your Elderly

As our parents get older and weaker due to age, we are faced with a difficult choice to make. Should we shift them to a care home or can we engage elderly care at home? While a care home is a residential facility that houses and offers constant care to older adults, home care is basically hiring a professional to look after your elderly at home. To make this decision is not an easy task, as it is going to affect the well-being of your parent to a significant extent. Apart from talking to your elderly about it, you should also consider a few factors before making a final choice. It is only after weighing different parameters that you should opt for the most suitable care service. So, let us keep reading and carry on with the discussion.

Independence – Care homes offer professional care services, but they may put restrictions and rules in place to ensure the safety and wellness of older adults. Some elderly people might find such restrictions annoying and hindering their autonomy. However, the case is quite different when you engage home care services wherein your elderly will continue living in his home and enjoy his independence with far minimum restrictions in place.

Mental Peace – Already sick and vulnerable, your parent can suffer a mental breakdown for having to shift to a new place and adjust to a new environment. Such trauma can do more harm than good to his health. On the other hand, staying at home will save your elderly from going through such mental exhaustion. In fact, living with his family at home may relieve your parent of stress and help him recover faster from ailments.

Constant Care – When you engage domestic support services, the care professional offers round the clock care for your elderly. But they are less likely to work in collaborations with medical professionals. So, if your elderly falls ill or his existing health problem aggravates, you will have to call a doctor separately. Coming to care homes, the care workers can seek support from medical professionals and offer immediate care to an ailing patient.

Social Contact – An in-home carer can take your elderly out for a walk, exercising, and help him keep up with the social activities. However, isolation can’t be totally avoided even when you hire a home carer. Now, since care homes have several other patients/occupants, you elderly can make friends and maintain social contact with all. By organising fun outdoor activities, the care homes also make sure older adults stay fit, active, and engaged.

Cost-effectiveness – Of course, you will have to consider your budget before making a final call. If you are considering a long-term care option for your parent, then care homes can be quite expensive as they include the cost of 24 hours care, accommodation, provisions of meals, social and laundry activities. However, with home care support, you can have greater flexibility as it lets you adjust the duration of service, opt for specific assistance, and pay on an hourly basis.

Conclusion – So, there you have the most important factors to consider before engaging elderly care services. Hope you make the right choice for your loving one! To discuss your requirements and seek suggestions from the professionals, you may contact Priory Care Services.