Benefits of Live In Care v Care Home v Nursing Home

Selecting the right care and support service for yourself or a loved one can be complex and emotional but understanding the options and making informed decisions is invaluable to ensuring you have peace of mind.

There is a considerable difference between a live in care service within the comfort, familiarity and independence of your own home, and moving to a residential facility. Our priority, as a leading nationwide home care provider, is always to put care for clients and respect for their wishes at the top of our agenda.

Let Guardian Angel Carers explain the contrasts between domiciliary care services and why we believe that the benefits of live in care services can be the best choice for individuals who prefer to live independently on their own terms in their own home, with professional, compassionate support from qualified live in carers.

Is Live In Home Care Right for You or Your Loved One?

Many people recognise that a family member needs extra support from day to day. Perhaps they are vulnerable to a fall, sometimes forget to take medication, or do not feel comfortable traveling or carrying out daily household tasks alone.

Some individuals might find standing for long periods difficult, making cooking problematic, lack company, or face an impossibly hard decision about whether their mobility will allow them to continue caring for their pets.

In these scenarios, residential or nursing home care is often considered the only choice – but it doesn’t have to be.

Live in care ranges from companionship-centered care, provided by a warm, and friendly care management team, to nursing care, which is a slightly different prospect.

Nursing homes and nursing care mean the professional carer has access to medical expertise. In most nursing homes, at least one registered nurse is available to provide more complex medical care or prepare diagnostic testing to check whether a resident’s health is stable or requires a change in treatment.

The starting point is to consider the specific personal care services you or your loved one needs, what would best support your welfare and happiness, and then evaluate the care options available.

Can I Choose a Live In Carer in my Own Home Over a Care Home?

Residential care homes and nursing facilities can provide a good service. Still, giving up independence, and potentially moving away from your garden, familiar surroundings, neighbours, and the home you have lived in for decades is not something many find easy.

However, individuals can begin to find day-to-day life difficult to manage, particularly if they live alone, and many families cannot provide round the clock care and support.

A live in care service is a viable, often more affordable alternative to residential care and can be structured to your specific requirements.

Families can liaise with their care team to provide updates, discuss options, and learn about variants in live in care services. They may prefer to have a live-in carer over the winter months but be comfortable with overnight or visiting care when the weather is warmer, as one example.

If you, or your relative, would prefer to stay in your own home and find the concept of moving into residential care upsetting or distressing, a professional live in carer can be an excellent alternative, providing a high level of personal care without disrupting a well-established routine and comfortable way of life.

Can I Arrange Live In Care Instead of a Nursing Home?

The third option could be to look at specialist support rather than a nursing home. Nursing homes are often more expensive than care homes because of the on-site medical expertise.

They can be a valuable service for those with frailty or requiring daily assistance to manage an illness or condition such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.

In this circumstance, specialist care can also be a compromise, where skilled carers can provide either live-in or companionship care to protect the well-being and welfare of the individual.

Live In Care Specialist Services

Specialist care services are varied and flexible and include the following:

• Mobility and frailty care: help with mobility, personal care and domestic tasks while reducing fall risks.
• Stroke rehabilitation care: supporting individuals and their families while recovering from a stroke or making adjustments to their living environment.
• Parkinson’s care: practical and companionship care to assist people managing Parkinson's as a developmental condition that can make chores and walking difficult.
• Diabetes care: diabetes can become serious when unmanaged, and home care can avoid preventable conditions and help with medication, blood sugar monitoring and general home assistance.
• Palliative care: end-of-life requires an exceptional level of care, ensuring you or your loved one is comfortable, well looked after, and can live with dignity and independence where they do not wish to move into a hospice or other facility.
• Home from hospital care: returning home from surgery, treatment or an extended hospital stay can cause anxiety and concern for families. A care professional provides tailored care and support for clients and can help with recovery, medication, rehabilitation exercises and any other aspect of feeling safe, supported, and relaxed in their own home.
• Alzheimer’s and dementia care: specially trained dementia and Alzheimer’s carers understand these conditions well. They are patient, understanding, respectful and ensure their clients are calm and safe and have expert care and support to avoid distress and confusion.

Any of these specialist care services can make live in carers a viable alternative to a hospital, nursing home, residential care home or a hospice and provide an important option for people who feel happiest and most content in their own home.

While nursing and care homes may be one solution, this isn’t a foregone conclusion, and a live in care service can be adapted to any circumstance to respect the rights of individuals who do not want to leave the home they know and love.