During the winter months a topic that can be on the minds of many families with elderly loved ones needing more support, is the decision between a move into a residential care home, versus opting for home care or a live in carer.
The unseen advantages of Residential care
Residential care homes are well known as offering a built-in social circle, ensuring that loneliness takes a backseat. Designed with comfort and safety in mind, we focus on adapting to cater to the specific needs of residents through personalised care plans.
Providing residents with support they may not have at home is a given, plus there is an extra layer of reassurance of having someone on hand 24/7. An unseen advantage is that with all inclusive care, food shopping and preparing meals is all taken care of, with the option of communal dining making mealtimes more enjoyable as a social gathering.
Making the choice between live in care and a care home
At the Huntington and Langham Estate, we often have enquiries from people who have opted to try home care first, before taking the decision to move into a residential home.
For many who just need a little extra help with daily living, home care is a great option especially those who can remain in their own home, a place filled with cherished memories and personal belongings.
One of the main reasons we have found new resident start to consider a permanent move into a Residential setting, is that in-home care usually involves scheduled visits from caregivers at set hours of the day and evening, which don’t always match an individual’s routines. Night times are often when people living alone feel their most vulnerable especially during the winter nights, so if assistance is required outside of these hours, it isn’t immediate in case of emergencies or if unexpected needs arise it can be stressful.
We recently asked a potential resident about why they were planning to make the switch to moving into Huntington House. For them it was because the home care they had in place often involved the rotation of caregivers, which meant they struggled to build a relationship with them, to understand their personal needs and found they were often rushing to their next appointment and rarely had time to sit down for a chat.
Making a change to your way of living inevitably involves tough decisions to be made and we always advise it’s essential to carefully weigh up any downsides, against the potential benefits with individual preferences in mind, when deciding between home care and other care options. Everyone’s situation is unique, and finding the right balance to ensure personal well-being and happiness is crucial.
How our approach offers the best of both options
We recognise the importance to our residents of maintaining their independence and being able to retain control over their plan for the day, personal care decisions, and lifestyle choices. A sense of autonomy and self-determination is a very important part of the Dragonfly Care approach, as is creating a simulating environment during the day.
We don’t work to a fixed schedule or routine, every day is different for each resident depending how they feel or their personal habits. Our homemaking team go beyond just giving practical assistance, they also provide emotional support and companionship. We recognise having a familiar face around can alleviate feelings of loneliness and contribute to a positive mental and emotional state.
For anyone who isn’t sure about a permanent move and worry about settling in, we recommend coming to Huntington House for a short trial period of 2 weeks or more, to test us out, try the food, meet your potential new neighbours and explore the Estate – you won’t regret it!
Please free to contact us for more information, or to arrange a visit to the Estate and tour our homes and grounds, please call 01428 604 600
