When it comes to getting older and needing extra support, choosing the right care can feel like a big decision. While residential care used to be the “go-to” option, times have changed. With everything from a few hours of support to full-time live-in care available in your own home from a local provider, staying safely at home is more achievable than ever.
As we enter our ninth year of supporting elderly clients in Jersey we thought we’d share our top nine reasons why home care often comes out on top:
Home Comforts: There’s nothing like being in your own space, surrounded by familiar things and sleeping in your own bed. There’s a unique comfort in being at home. Familiar surroundings can boost mood and promote mental wellbeing for everyone, but is especially important for those with dementia for whom familiarity can be incredibly reassuring and reduce confusion.
Up To Three Times Physically Safer Too: This familiarity with surroundings also contributes to significantly reduced risk of a hip fracture from falls which is reduced by up to three times at home compared to in residential care. Infection risks are lower too – the main reason why home care, and especially live-in care, increased in popularity during COVID.
One-On-One Attention: Home care means one-on-one support, ensuring individualised attention and immediate response. Staff in residential settings are usually responsible for multiple residents – often with competing needs.
Flexibility: Whether you need a bit of help each day or full-time, live-in care, the level of support at home can change as your needs do. And all without the disruption of a big move.
You Remain In Charge: At home, you can maintain your own schedule. Eat what you like, when you like, get up and retire when you feel like it. There’s no need to stick to institutional routines or menus. You remain completely in charge – all in the comfort of your own home.
Adaptable Support: From getting dressed and personal care to household chores, help with medication, shopping and outings, home care adapts to what you need, when you need it.
Stay Connected: Home care makes it easier for family and friends to visit, especially if those living off-island can still come and stay with you. Cherished pets can stay by your side and within limits you can have help with their care too! And a dedicated Carer has more time for you – including time to help with WhatsApp or other calls to off-island family if required.
Better Value: You only pay for the support you need. If you’re a couple, a single Carer can often assist both of you without doubling the hours or number of live-in Carers required. And in case you didn’t know, live-in care is comparable in cost to a decent room in a care home – and attracts the same amount of Long Term Care (LTC) subsidy too.
Keeping Hobbies Alive: Whether it’s baking, gardening or just relaxing in your own space, staying at home means you can keep doing the things you love. There may be more sitting, enjoying the garden than digging in it, but you can still enjoy the fruits of previous years’ labours! We have clients who have restarted former hobbies – and even started new ones – when the extra support and social stimulation of a live-in carer was introduced.
When it comes to ageing well, home offers the chance to live your life on your own terms, surrounded by the things and people you love. There truly is no place like home!
To find out more, call CI Home Care on 01534 883886 or email nicola@cihomecare.com – you might just discover the solution you didn’t know was available.