Care Homes or Home Care: Which is Best for You?

For some of us, there may come a time when we need to consider additional care for our loved ones who perhaps aren’t able to live as independently anymore.

This can be a daunting time for many, made more difficult by decisions about what kind of care and support would be best for the ones we love, especially if you’re not sure what help is available. For elderly relatives or friends, usually the choice is between care homes or home care.

But what’s the difference between live-in carers or care homes? And which is best for your loved one?

We’ll explain the key differences between at-home care and nursing or care homes and some of the advantages of both for those who need additional support.

What Is the Difference Between Care Homes and At-Home Care?

Care and nursing homes are residential homes which provide either full-time or short-stay accommodation for older people. Care homes often have many residents and a full team of staff, from chefs to activity coordinators to registered nurses. In addition to qualified team members being available 24/7, care homes also provide residents with nutritional meals, places to socialise and enjoy activities and gardens to enjoy. Depending on the care home, there may be additional amenities or services available such as a hair salon, cinema room or bistro.

At-home care, by contrast, involves a dedicated carer providing specific care and companionship in your own home, whether as a live-in carer or someone who visits once or multiple times a day.

What Are the Benefits of Care Homes?

So now you know the difference between live in carers versus care homes, how do you choose between them? To help you decide, we’ve put together some of the advantages of residential care and care homes…

Cost

We know that in today’s world, cost is everything. So, what are the differences between the cost of home care and a care home?

The prices of both can vary depending on the type of care you receive and amount of support that is needed but is also influenced by your location and other factors, so it’s best to research your options before making a final decision.

That being said, on average, care homes tend to be more cost-effective than live-in carers when you consider what is included in the cost of staying at a care home. For example, the weekly fee for staying at a Caring Homes care home covers not only care but also meals, utilities, social events, housekeeping and laundry and personalised care and wellbeing plans.

Social Wellbeing

One of the key advantages of residential care in a care or nursing home is the opportunities for social wellbeing. In a care home, residents are surrounded by likeminded people at a similar stage of life, many of whom are more than happy to get to know each other.

Communal areas and gardens offer the chance for care home residents to engage in mutual hobbies, enjoy good conversation, or simply spend time in the company of others. Many care homes also put on events for the community to get involved with, creating a supportive environment by encouraging a connection between the home and those in the surrounding area.

At care homes, there are entire teams of nurses and staff that are available to help and to have a chat. At Caring Homes, our care home staff can often feel like a second family to residents. Having learnt about each individual’s likes, dislikes, and preferences, we know how to best care for each resident. This includes understanding whether they thrive in a group environment, or if they prefer one-to-one chats.

Routine

Care homes can often provide a strong sense of routine for residents, with regular wake up times, activities and clubs and set mealtimes. Routines are an underrated part of our wellbeing and often make a huge difference to our quality of life.

Of course, at Caring Homes, we also recognise the importance of independence and autonomy for our residents. That’s why mealtimes are flexible and we encourage our residents to spend their days how they wish.

Those who opt for live-in or care at home may also find routine in a carer visiting at specific times of day, eating at the same time, or watching a certain TV show every day. Personalised care plans set by care providers can help with providing a sense of routine. This, however, is something that both care homes and live-in or visiting carers can support with.

Round-the-Clock Care

Another advantage of care homes versus home care is the availability of round-the-clock care. In a care home, there are a team of staff on hand 24/7 to provide support should residents need it and often provides peace of mind for not only the resident but their families too. Professionals in a care home not only support from a care point of view, but also are around for wellbeing support, as someone familiar to talk to.

While live-in carers do also provide round-the-clock care, this can be made more difficult with factors such as annual leave and sick days.

Amenities

Many care homes have excellent amenities for socialising and activities such as beautiful gardens, on-site bistros and cafes, activity rooms and even hair salons so everything is in one place, on-site.

At many of our care homes, we also arrange and run trips to the local area, giving residents the chance to get out and about with the support of the care home staff. Read about the trips the residents of Whittington House Care Home enjoy, with the added incentive of coffee and cake!

Standards of Care

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England regulates all health and social care services, and this includes both care homes and live-in carers – so both options are heavily regulated. Care homes are also regularly assessed by governing boards to ensure we meet high standards of safety and quality.

Not Having to Arrange Care Yourself

By staying at a care home vs home care, you avoid the stress of needing to arrange at-home care and find the right person to care for your loved one yourself. This can often be a lengthy process, as it’s important to make sure your loved one is in the care of someone qualified, capable, and who you trust.

With a care home, this stress is taken away. Once you find the care home that suits your loved one’s needs, we take care of the rest.

Care for Complex Needs

Another one of the key advantages of residential care is the capacity for additional care for complex health needs and conditions. In some instances, in order for your loved one to have the best quality of life, they may require constant care in a specialist discipline, for example nursing or dementia care.

At Caring Homes, every member of our team receives our unique, award winning ‘Living in My World’ dementia training. This training highlights the importance of meaningful activities and a stimulating environment for people living with dementia, while also addressing the clinical aspects of care.

Providing Additional Care Easily

When the type of care your loved one needs changes, care homes are more easily able to adapt to this when comparing to receiving care at home.

Let’s say for example your loved one starts out as a resident in a care home but after a while it’s clear that they need additional healthcare help such as nursing or dementia care. In a care home that already provides this type of care, it’s much easier to transition and add on any extra help that they need. By contrast, with a live-in or at-home carer, they may not be qualified to provide this extra care, which means starting the process of looking for more help all over again.

So How Do You Know Which Is Better for Your Loved One?

There is a lot to think about when considering whether care homes or home care is best for your loved one, whether this be a parent, grandparent, sibling, partner, or friend.

Overall, your choice should depend on the wants and needs of the person who needs the extra care – what is best for them, what can they afford, and what best suits their needs? It can be a difficult decision, so make sure to gather as much information as possible so your choice is informed.

If you’d like more information on our care homes and what we can provide, get in touch, or look for your nearest Caring Homes care or nursing home and book your visit. If you’re not sure what kind of care you’re looking for, explore our types of care today or give us a call.