Deciding that you or a loved one would benefit from home care assistance can be a difficult thought process, which is why we’re here to assure you that at-home care improves your quality of life rather than setting you back.
When considering elderly care services or personal care assistance, it’s important to understand what they entail and how they can benefit you. In this blog, we’ll cover all of the need-to-know information about at-home caregiving services, so that you’re well-equipped to arrange quality home care.
Understanding Home Care Assistance
Although requiring home care assistance might feel like you are forgoing your independence, at-home caregiving services actually focus on promoting your independence. You can work with home care agencies to establish what you need help with, whether that’s personal care assistance or general housekeeping, which gives you the freedom to partake in hobbies and maintain control over your own familiar surroundings.
As home care is tailored to your individual needs, it is a flexible option that can adapt as your needs change, too.
When You Might Need Home Care Assistance
There are many reasons why you or a loved one might benefit from at-home caregiving services:
- Long-term health conditions
If you are living with a long-term health condition, whether that is a neurological disorder like dementia, a chronic illness like diabetes or a physical disability, choosing home care assistance could greatly enhance your quality of life. An at-home carer will help you with medication management, personal care and monitoring your overall health.
- Recovering from a hospital stay or surgery
At-home caregiving services could be a great tool to aid your recovery if you have returned home from surgery or an extended hospital stay. Your carer should liaise with other post-hospital recovery support and multi-disciplinary teams, including NHS contacts and your GP, to help you regain your independence at home, as well as accompany you to appointments and assist with any physically demanding tasks in the interim.
- Support for your loved ones
If a family member is your primary carer, they may need additional support if they are also juggling work and personal responsibilities. Temporary relief care can offer your loved one the break they need, while ensuring you still receive the same standard of care.
- General wellbeing support
Elderly care services are a great option for enhancing quality of life, as you may not need home care for specific challenges, but would benefit from companionship to combat loneliness. If you live independently, elderly care services also offer you the opportunity to receive support with personal care, household tasks or other daily activities.
During this incredibly difficult time, you may want to remain at home rather than move to a hospice. Your home care agency will ensure that you feel as comfortable as possible at all times, respect and fulfil all of your wishes, and provide emotional support to you and your loved ones as you navigate this challenging period.
What Does Home Care Assistance Include?
An at-home carer can provide a range of services, both in the comfort of your own home and during any outdoor activities, including:
- Help with household chores, like laundry or cleaning
- Personal care, such as bathing, dressing and grooming
- Meal planning and preparation
- Medication management, including liaising with your pharmacy
- Different levels of care, like emergency, overnight or live-in care
- Carer companionship
Home Care Assistance Funding Options
Not only is home care generally less expensive than nursing homes, but you can also ask your local council for a care needs assessment. They will use the findings of the assessment to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria and have ‘eligible’ care needs.
If you are eligible, they will carry out a financial assessment, looking at your income and savings, to see if you’re entitled to receive their help with the cost of your care. If the results of the financial assessment show you are entitled to financial assistance, they will provide this funding in the form of direct payments to you or a trusted loved one. That way, you can choose your own home care provider with the funding you have received.
If the assessments find that you aren’t eligible, your council will still give you advice on other available options. When choosing your home care agency, always ensure that they are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
At Blossom Home Care, we are upfront with our costs, never spring additional fees on our clients like other care establishments and work to agreed set visit times too, so you know exactly when we will be arriving.
How Blossom Home Care Can Help With Home Care Assistance
At Blossom Home Care, we ensure that every client receives the highest quality personalised home care by treating our expert carers properly, committing to a 50-minute minimum call time and delivering care that is easily tracked in our Blossom Home Care app.
Our primary goal is to protect your wellbeing and improve your quality of life. If you would like to enquire about any of our services or have any questions about home care, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.