That’s because care support adjusts to you, rather than being a fixed service with a static number of tasks a carer will provide. Some people have complex needs and might need more help with medications and therapies. In contrast, others require companionship care and emotional support, and others might rely on carers for practical assistance around their homes.
While we’ll explain each care service in detail, the key is to remember that care doesn’t only become valuable when an individual needs help to remain well and safe. It can be equally essential for those living alone, at risk of isolation, and for whom a friendly care visit can make all the difference to their quality of life.
Why Home Care Spans Several Different Types of Care
Individual needs naturally vary, sometimes considerably. As home carers, we provide visiting, live-in care and overnight care to help address a broad range of concerns, with some of the many potential scenarios as follows:
- Family members are worried about a loved one becoming isolated
- The person needs help with social interactions and activities
- Care recipients want domiciliary care to assist with cleaning, cooking and laundry
- An older person needs help with pet care and medication reminders
- The individual is recovering from an illness, injury or hospital stay
- A care recipient requires specialist dementia care
- Family carers need respite care support to be able to rest and take proper breaks
Although this is far from an exhaustive list and just a few situations where home care might be required, it is also common for there to be more than one issue that home carers can address.
For instance, a person might require help with hydration and nutrition, welcome assistance around their home with everyday tasks, and also want a compassionate carer to help them get out and about for clubs, groups and hobbies.
This is why care coordinators start by discussing daily routines, well-being, health conditions, and expectations with new care recipients and their loved ones before making any recommendations, ensuring each care plan is personalised to the person’s needs and preferences.
How Does Companionship Home Care Work?
Companionship care services are sometimes less familiar to families than other types of care. They can be part of a visiting care arrangement or combined with personal care assistance to help with many of the aspects of daily life.
However, the primary focus is on supporting the welfare of a care recipient, concentrating on their emotional well-being, the freedom to continue their routines or favourite activities, maintaining friendships and contact with family members, and attending social events with a trusted carer on hand to help.
Again, this might look different between families, but the emphasis of companionship care is on mental well-being and on helping with whatever tasks, activities, or routines contribute to it.
Importantly, companionship isn’t just about having someone to talk to, although this is often incredibly important for people living alone.
It can involve assisting a person in a wide range of areas, ensuring they maintain confidence and independence and can go for walks, day trips, or appointments with the peace of mind that they’ll be supported throughout.
The Differences Between Companionship and Domiciliary Care
Domiciliary care, or visiting care, can go hand in hand with companionship, and many home carers form strong relationships with the people and families they support. This type of assistance is equally flexible, with care plans created specifically for each individual, but may involve:
- Personal care, such as help with bathing, continence and dressing
- Medication reminders and recording dosages and timings
- Mobility support with walking, navigating stairs and getting in and out of beds and chairs
- Preparing healthy, fresh meals and drinks
- Help with tasks like light housework
- Assistance on trips outside the home, such as doctor’s appointments and shopping
Visiting care is very flexible and can range from a few hours a week, when a carer works in the person’s home or accompanies them to social activities, to daily visits at staggered intervals, depending on what works best for the person and their family.
When Medical or Specialist Home Care May Be Necessary
Home care enables care recipients to protect their right to continued independence. If there are medical needs to consider, it may be important that the carers who provide this service can assist with clinical tasks or have expertise and qualifications caring for people with complex needs.
This can apply when a person is living with a chronic illness, has nursing requirements, needs palliative care, or requires support with rehabilitation following an accident, stroke or fall.
A family looking to arrange companionship care who also needs to ensure carers can manage health-related tasks such as changing dressings, assisting with tube-based feeding, or supporting rehabilitation exercises typically requires specialist care services to safeguard the well-being of the recipient.
Medical care isn’t therefore a completely separate service from companionship or domiciliary care. Instead, it often represents an additional level of specialist support that can be incorporated into a personalised care plan where there are complex health needs.
How To Choose the Right Type of Home Care
There isn’t a right or wrong way to structure home care. Our recommendations will be centred around the needs of the person and the types of tasks and practical support the individual wishes to receive, all of which are built into tailored home care plans that set out how care will be organised, and when and how it will be delivered.
Carers also recognise that care needs can and often do change, which might mean organising companionship care, then scheduling more frequent domiciliary care visits as required, and potentially suggesting specialist care if this becomes necessary.
Our guidance is to consider what excellent care would look like to you and your family, and what type of support would make the biggest positive difference.
If in doubt, you’ll find more information about these and other care services through our website pages, or you are welcome to get in touch with your nearest Guardian Angel Carers branch, and our care managers will be happy to chat through all the options with you.