There are various types of Home Care services available, each with the aim of helping your loved one live independently. If this is your first time seeking services for a relative in their home, you may not know which type of care to choose.
This post will explain what Home Care is and explore what type of care is performed in a person’s home. This will help you understand which one is the best fit for your relative so they can continue to live at home with the right support.
What is Home Care?
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 3.3 million people aged 65 and over were living alone in England and Wales in 2021. Many of them rely on Home Care to help them live by themselves confidently.
Home Care is help with a wide range of everyday activities, provided at the client's home. You may also have heard the term “Domiciliary Care”, which is simply another term for “Home Care”. Both types offer the same services, allowing people to live independently in their own homes.
Learn more about Home Care and how it can help your loved one in our recent blog What is domiciliary care? Your questions answered.
Home Care vs. a care home
Home Care can often be a good alternative to a care home. In fact, there are some crucial differences that can inform your choice.
A care home, or residential home, provides a place to live and round-the-clock care for residents. This can be a good option when your loved one needs a lot of support, for example, if they are living with late-stage dementia.
However, care can also be given in the person’s own home from just a few hours a week to 24/7 as live-in care. This gives them more freedom and flexibility to live life their way.
Both options have their merits, and your decision will be informed by your loved one’s unique needs. If you decide Home Care is the best option, you will need to understand the difference between the types of Home Care services available. We will examine these in the next section.
Types of Home Care services
Personal care
Personal care provides support with everyday tasks such as washing, using the toilet, taking a shower and getting dressed.
It can also include help with light housework, grocery shopping and meal preparation. Overall, personal care can cover any household task that the client might struggle with.
This type of care is suitable for people who find it difficult to achieve these activities unaided because of disability, ill health or frailty. It enables them to live in their own home with increased confidence.
Companion care
Companion care is exactly as the name suggests — companionship and support that boosts the client’s emotional well-being.
This type of care is perfect for older people who are relatively independent and do not need help with personal tasks. It aims instead to help combat loneliness and provide a companion to share experiences with.
Companion care could involve taking the client to an appointment, accompanying them to social events or going on a day out together. It can also take place at home, where the home carer and the client may enjoy a hobby together, cook or just sit and chat.
Respite care
Respite care is designed to give family carers some time off from their duties. It involves carers stepping in for a temporary period and taking on the tasks that the family carer would normally carry out.
This allows family carers to have a break and recharge, enabling them to return to their responsibilities refreshed.
It suits families with members who have moderate to high care needs. Everyone in the family can benefit from this type of care.
Live-in care
Live-in care is when a carer or carers come to live in the client’s home to support them 24/7. They help with a wide range of tasks, from personal care to running errands for their client.
This type of care works well for people who wish to remain in their own homes and continue living their lifestyle. They may find everyday tasks such as washing, dressing and household activities challenging. The constant support, as well as companionship, that live-in care provides is invaluable in these cases.
Dementia Care
Dementia Care is provided by carers trained to understand how to support people living with this condition.
Dementia can present a range of symptoms such as memory loss, personality changes and insomnia. These will vary from person to person and according to the client’s stage of illness. A dementia carer will know how to deal with these symptoms with expertise and compassion.
This type of care is ideal for people living with early-stage dementia. Staying in their own familiar environment with support provides many benefits for these clients.
Mental Health Care
Mental Health Care supports people with a wide range of mental health issues. These include anxiety disorders and depression.
A mental health condition can make everyday tasks challenging. This type of care helps the client continue to live as full a life as possible in their own home. It can also provide valuable companionship and emotional support.
Mental Health Care is a good solution for clients of all ages who are living with a mental health condition and do not need inpatient care.
Get the right Home Care for your loved one
Deciding on the type of Home Care service that is right for your loved one is an important choice. We hope this article has helped you understand which one is best for your relative and you might find our guide on choosing a Home Care provider valuable too.
Since 2010, Bramble Home Care has been providing compassionate and tailored care to our clients. Most of the types of care mentioned above fall under our Home Care services. In addition, we offer Dementia and Mental Health Home Care as specialist services.
You can find out more about our range of services and packages here. Or, if you’d like to discuss your loved one’s unique needs, please contact our friendly team. You can book a Home Care consultation to take place in your or your relative’s home at a time that suits you.
Or choose another way to contact us:
Call us on 01684 217040
Email us at enquiries@bramblehomecare.co.uk