Everything you need to know about elderly care
Elderly care services can support people to live safely and independently in their own homes. As we grow older, illness, infirmity and dementia can make it a struggle to manage household chores, get out and about, and cook, shop and care for ourselves.
Elderly home care can provide the practical and emotional support needed to help your loved one stay healthy and happy in the home they love.
What is elderly home care?
Elderly home care is support provided for senior and older people, in the home. Professional carers come into the home to provide help with anything from household tasks and popping to the shops to administering medication, assisting with dressing and washing and going to the loo.
The right level of care will depend on your loved one’s health, their level of function and their preferences. They may need a home help for just a few hours to provide a helping hand and a friendly face, or around-the-clock nursing care to support complex needs like incontinence, tube feeding or ventilation.
How can elderly companionship care help?
Elderly companionship care can support people who feel isolated and lonely. In the UK, around half of all people over 75 live alone: poor mobility and the loss of a partner mean that many lack the ability or confidence to get out and about. Over a million elderly people in this country say that they often or usually feel lonely, which can have effects on their health and wellbeing.
Companion carers provide emotional support and company. If your loved one is healthy and reasonably independent but lonely, a companionship carer can provide friendship, help, conversation and a friendly face.
Elderly companionship care can offer more continuity of care, a familiar environments and most importantly and a trusted confidante to reduce loneliness and isolation.Find out more about the different types of care.
Different typed of elderly care at home?
Visiting elderly care is drop-in care, provided in the home and arranged on a hourly basis. A home carer will visit your loved one’s home at set times to offer practical, social and personal care support. Visiting care can include personal assistance, a helping hand with chores, supervision of medication and help with getting in and out of bed. Visiting care can support your loved one to live independently and improve their quality of life.Is Live-in elderly care right for my family?
For the frail, unwell or isolated elderly, live-in home care can provide the support needed to stay in the home they love, close to family, friends and all that is familiar and reassuring. If your loved one needs around-the-clock care and supervision, then live-in care is an excellent alternative to a nursing home. Live-in carers move into your loved one’s home to provide care, support and company, day and night. Live-in care can be ideal if your elderly relative is unable to live safely and comfortably without assistance.
Elderly Nursing care
Qualified nurses can provide clinical support and care for elderly people with serious illnesses and complex health needs, including incontinence, stomas, catheters and tube feeding. Elderly nursing care can be provided permanently for people living with advanced disease, disability or progressive conditions. However, temporary nursing care can also be provided to support older people recovering from an operation, accident or illness.Is Elderly Respite Care available?
Elderly respite care can support overworked and exhausted family carers. Caring can be enormously challenging physically and emotionally. The demands of care can have implications on your health, your work and your family. Respite caregivers can provide support, reassurance and a helping hand, so that you can get the rest you need.What are the benefits of elderly care?
Elderly care can support your loved one’s health, wellbeing and independence in their own home. Elderly home care offers many benefits including:
Regular routines: At home, your loved one can keep to the daily routines that they’re used to, which can boost wellbeing, improve function and maintain independence, particularly if they are affected by dementia.
Flexible care: Elderly home care can adapt to respond to the person’s evolving needs. A trusted home carer can start off by offering companionship and a helping hand, but as your loved one loses function, they may be able extend the service to support self-care and toileting or supervise medication.
Familiar surroundings: The elderly may have spent a lifetime surrounded by home comforts, photos, friends and family. Simple pleasures like a favourite mug and their comfortable chair can boost wellbeing and quality of life.
Care for couples: Elderly care can support elderly couples to continue living together at home for their twilight years. Professional home carers can address both their needs and ensure they stay safe and well.
Four-legged friends: Pets can be a fantastic source of love and companionship for the elderly. Elderly home care can ensure your loved one can stay at home with their furry friend; if needed, carers can help out with pet walks, care and toileting too.