Home care vs residential Home
Many people often enquire about the difference between staying at home and going into a care home.
What is home care?
Home care is when a carer visits you at home to provide you with support, from personal care to live-in care. It can sometimes be used interchangeably with domiciliary care. The duration of care varies depending on your needs. It can be temporary, such as when you are recovering from hospital surgery, or more permanent, such as when you have a complex condition like dementia.
According to the NHS, having a paid carer come to visit you in your home can make a huge difference to your life, especially if you have difficulty walking or getting around. It can help you stay living independently in your own home.
Home Care Benefits
Home care has various benefits. Firstly, it reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. It promotes a sense of comfort and security, which is especially great for clients with dementia. Secondly, it guarantees safety and support for families, as it is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), ensuring safety. Thirdly, it promotes independence and dignity. Fourthly, it ensures that clients attend to the safety of their own home and can access friends and families in a familiar environment. Finally, it provides support in a familiar environment.
Home care is flexible and provides different services such as companionship, personal care, live-in care and overnight care depending on your needs. It is delivered in the comfort of your own home.
What is a care home
On the other hand, a care home is a residence that provides housing and care for people who need help in daily living activities. They are also sometimes called residential homes or nursing homes.
Difference in care home vs nursing home
The difference between a nursing home and a care home is that they differ in the level of medical care provided. Care homes primarily focus on providing assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and medication management, whereas nursing homes offer medical services like medication management, wound care, physical therapy, and specialized care for conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Moving into a care home is a big decision and it can cost a lot of money. Before choosing a care home for yourself or someone you know, it’s worth considering all of the options.
Disadvantages of care homes
Some disadvantages of care homes include limited privacy, limited visiting hours, care that is not as personal since other residents are around, and sometimes people get homesick and miss the familiar environment home provides.
An Overview
| Aspect | Home Care | Care Home |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Carer visits individual at home to assist with personal needs, from temporary to permanent arrangements. | Residence providing housing and care for individuals needing assistance with daily living activities, often permanent. Also known as residential or nursing homes. |
| Level of Care | Assistance with activities of daily living, companionship, personal care, live-in care, and overnight care. | Assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and medication management. May include medical services like wound care, physical therapy, and specialized dementia care. |
| Environment | Familiar home environment, promoting independence, dignity, comfort, and security. | Shared residential facility with communal areas, offering social interaction but potentially limited privacy. |
| Cost | Typically flexible pricing based on services needed and duration. | Can be expensive, with costs varying based on location, level of care, and amenities provided. May involve selling property to cover expenses. |
| Benefits | Reduces stress and anxiety, promotes independence, maintains familiar environment, provides safety and support for families. | Provides round-the-clock care, medical services, social interaction, and support for daily activities. |
| Disadvantages | Limited privacy, potential homesickness, less personal care due to shared environment, limited visiting hours. | Costs can be high, limited independence, potential loss of privacy, adjustment to communal living. |
Need help to decide
If you need help deciding whether home care or a care home is the best option for you or your loved one, please get in touch with us. We are a home care agency based in High Wycombe, providing services in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Reading.