Different types of care
Our loved ones may be getting older. They be suffering with a physical or mental health challenge or finding everyday tasks more difficult. They may be feeling more isolated or suffering with illness such as Dementia. Maybe they need a little help after coming out of hospital, or maybe, you are a caregiver who deserves and needs a rest. Now is the time to consider home care.
Care for the elderly. What are the options?
When deciding what type of care is needed, there are so many things to consider. The quality of current, short-term and long-term health, cost, personal preferences, available support from local authorities, specific physical and mental health conditions, geography… the list is very long. Here are some options.
Care Homes
Care homes provide accommodation and personal care for people who need extra support in their daily lives. Personal care might include help with eating, washing, dressing, going to the toilet or taking medication. Some care homes also offer social activities such as day trips or outings.
Care homes are sometimes referred to as residential homes. You might have also heard the term ‘residential care’ used to refer to the care they provide.
Assisted Living and Sheltered Housing
Sheltered housing, sometimes known as retirement housing, is a type of ‘housing with support’, which you
can buy or rent. Find out if it’s the right housing option for you.
Sheltered housing, sometimes referred to as retirement housing, could suit you if you want to live independently but need a bit more support or if you want to live in a smaller home that’s easier to manage.
It’s usually only available to those aged 55 and over.
Some common features of sheltered housing include:
- help from a scheme manager (warden), or support staff
- 24-hour emergency help through an alarm system
- communal areas, such as gardens or lounges
- social activities for residents.
Features vary from scheme to scheme. Some schemes offer more support than others. If you’re interested in a particular scheme, make sure you understand which services are available, how much they cost, and whether you’d be eligible for any help with these costs.
Meals, help around the home and personal care services such as help with bathing aren’t usually provided. You can arrange a package of services from the local authority or a private care agency.
Unlike care homes, sheltered housing isn’t inspected or given ratings. Assisted living offers more support than sheltered housing but still allows you to live independently.
Hospice Care
Hospice care aims to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of adults, children and young people who have a terminal illness or a long-term condition that cannot be cured, also known as life-limiting. It is free for patients, their carers and family members.
Hospice care can be provided at any stage of a person’s condition, not just at the end of their lives. It can include symptom management, and social, practical, emotional, and spiritual support. It helps people live as fully and as well as they can to the end of their lives, however long that may be.
This type of care is also known as palliative care, and can also be provided in other places, such as in a hospital, at home, or in a community setting.
Home Care
Home or “domiciliary” care is what Caremark provides. This refers to receiving one-to-one personal support in your own home from professional care workers.
Some great benefits of home care are:
- May be much less expensive than a care home – and you may qualify for public funding via your local authority
- Helps your loved ones maintain their independence in an environment with reminders of the lives they have built – you wouldn’t need to fit all your belongings into one room
- You live life on your own terms with home care, deciding when you wake up, eat, what you watch on TV etc.
- Proven to be better for physical health, well-being, and happiness
- For those living with dementia, it is considered the best option, as being in a familiar surrounding can reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal
- Flexibility and designed to tailor to specific needs – from one morning visit a day to a live-in carer
- You have more say over the staff that care for your loved ones
- It allows the option of keeping your pets and having your friends and family visit whenever they want
Day Care Centres
Day care centres offer a supportive and engaging environment for elderly individuals during the day while their family members are at work or otherwise occupied. These centres provide social activities, meals and assistance with daily tasks, as well as opportunities for interaction and companionship with peers.
Day care centres can be particularly beneficial for the elderly who may feel isolated or lonely at home, providing them with stimulation and socialisation in a supervised setting.
How do I choose the right care?
Choosing the right type of care is important, so here some things you may want to consider:
- Open conversation: It’s so important that your loved one has a say in their care. Talk to them about their preferences and their needs. Respecting their wishes is vital to making care effective.
- Assess your loved one’s living situation: Is it safe? Is it comfortable? Does it meet their needs?
- Consider medical needs: Look at your loved ones mental and physical health. Do these needs require specialised equipment or specialised support?
- Affordability: What care options are affordable? Remember, you may qualify for financial assistance from your local authority. Find out more in the video below.
- Do your research: It’s vital, when making these decisions that you have all the information you need. Talk to medical professionals, visit care companies and homes. Ask friends for recommendations and read reviews. Discuss all the options with family members and remember, if you are a caregiver, it’s important to look after your own well being too.
As always, the team at Caremark Guildford and Woking are always on hand if you have any questions or need advice. Contact us here.
Quality Home care Guildford. Quality Home care Woking.
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