Home Care or Care Home – Which is the Better Choice?

Home Care or Care Home – Which is the Better Choice?

Choosing between home care or care homes for an elderly family member is a big decision. It’s important to consider the options carefully to figure out which is the better choice and how it will all work. It’s an important decision and one that requires research and planning. In this guide we will look at the differences between these care options and explore pros and cons to help you decide whether home care or care home is the better choice for your elderly family member. Read on to learn more about this topic.

Differences Between Home Care and Care Home 

The biggest difference is the location of care. Home care involves a care professional visiting the client at home to provide support with everyday tasks, personal care and medication. It can also involve things like assistance with meal preparation and housework. With at home care, the goal is to keep the client living independently in their own home for as long as possible. If you choose to go with at home care, you might need to make some alterations to the home too such as installing a ramp, a stairlift, grab bars etc. to help make it easier for your elderly family member to move around independently.

A care home is a shared residential building where the residents receive round the clock care from healthcare professionals. Usually, care homes are best suited for elderly who require a lot of assistance with their daily tasks or more supervision with their healthcare. In a care home, each resident usually has their own private room but can also enjoy communal spaces that are shared with the other residents. 

With at home care, the elderly person has more control over things like food choices and activities which will be important for a lot of people. In a care home situation, you need to be more flexible as choices will be more limited.

Care Home or At Home Care – Financial Considerations 

As well as considering the differences laid out above and what would be the best fit for your elderly family member, there are also financial considerations to be made. 

There’s no doubt that both at home care and care homes can be very expensive. At home care is usually more affordable than a care home but it can still be very costly. How much home care in the UK costs varies on several factors such as what type of care is needed and how complex it is, location and provider. Whether you opt for hourly care or live-in care will also affect the price. It’s a good idea to contact a few local homecare agencies to compare their prices and offered services before you make a decision.

Check Your Eligibility for Financial Support

You might be eligible for help with care costs from your local council too so that’s worth checking. There are benefits available such as Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment for people who need help with care or have an illness or disability.

The Other Choice – Become a Carer

The other choice that might work better for you and your elderly family member is to become a carer and provide the care yourself. You might be eligible for Carer’s Allowance if you meet certain criteria. This can be a great choice when only simple care is required and you have the flexibility to make it work. Caring for older family members can be intense work though so don’t underestimate this task.

Home Care and Care Home – Pros and Cons