Home Care Vs Residential Care: Which Is Best For You?

Home Care Vs Residential Care: Which Is Best For You?

One of the biggest issues we need to think about as we grow older is what to do if we need care.

While planning for this beforehand with family or friends is a good idea, it’s not something that we all take time to contemplate thoroughly.

Many of us may prefer to stay in our homes and receive care there rather than move into a residential care home as it can be difficult to suddenly pull up your roots and move to a new location, especially as an older, more vulnerable person.

Here, we take a look at the pros and cons of staying at home vs going into residential care.

Your choice will largely depend on your needs. If you want to maintain your independence and a strong connection to your local community, some form of home care is going to be your first best option. Should you require more help, perhaps because you have dementia or a severe health problem, a residential home will provide a safe and controlled environment in which to live.

Home Care

This is where someone comes to your home and provides care for you. It could mean, for instance, a carer spending a couple of hours a day helping you with various tasks such as getting dressed, making meals or going shopping.

  • Home care can be more cost effective if you only require basic services. The more care requirements you have, however, the more it will cost.
  • The big benefit with home care is that you get to stay somewhere familiar with your neighbours, family and friends around you. If you have pets they can remain with you also.
  • You can tailor your care to meet your needs, increasing if you require more services, but still maintaining your independence.
  • When assessing how much funding you get from the local authority for your care, the value of your home is not taken into account as it may be if you move into a residential home. On the other hand, home care can end up being more expensive if you require specialist care or have someone live-in to provide 24/7 care.

Residential or Nursing Home

Residential care is provided within a specifically designed facility where you live full-time and have your care needs met by professional staff.

There are two options here. A residential care home generally helps with personal care and daily living. A nursing home is the most appropriate option if you require medical or health care support on a regular basis.

  • You will always have qualified staff on hand to help you out and you don’t have to worry about anything such as paying bills, shopping, cooking or remembering to take medication.
  • There will be other people you can connect with and build relationships with.
  • One downside is that you may feel as though some of your independence has been lost, as moving to a new location at a later stage can be a big upheaval.
  • The cost will be higher than simple home care and it can be more expensive if you require nursing care.
  • If you owned your home, once you move into residential care, the value of this is taken into account when considering local authority funding.

Find out more about the pros and cons of home care vs residential care.

At Wessex Care, we provide you with the choice of Community care, tailored to support your needs.

We can deliver practical and immediate assistance that helps you live in your own home and maintain your independence.

We also operate several residential, mental health care and nursing homes in Salisbury all with the latest facilities and full-time, fully qualified staff on site.

Contact us today to discuss your care needs.

Welcome to the Wessex Care Blog. With the latest news, blogs and updates from The Wessex Care team – Quality care home providers in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Kimberly West Care Centre

27 Tollgate Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2JA

01722 322494

Kimberly East Care Centre

27 Tollgate Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2JA

01722 328315

Little Manor Care Centre

Manor Farm Road
Salisbury
Wilts
SP1 2RS

01722 341764

Milford Manor Residential Home

Milford Manor Gardens
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2RN

01722 338652

Holmwood Residential Home

30 Fowlers Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2QU

01722 331130

Community Services & Head Office

Wessex Care
11 Tollgate Road
Salisbury
SP1 2JA

01722 336933