Care Home or home care - which is best?
At some point, we may determine that our loved ones require more assistance, at which point residential care becomes a viable option. It can sometimes be a difficult decision, but at Field House, we are here to help you choose which option is the right fit for you or for your loved ones.
COVID-19 has also introduced a new factor to consider. Despite negative national news coverage, well-run homes like Field House have robust infection control systems which make care homes an attractive choice. Our residents are vaccinated and our employees are tested regularly, making the care home environment difficult to rival in terms of safety. We’ve even maintained ‘COVID-19 secure’ visiting during the lockdown.
We’re here to help with making the care home or home care decision. If you’ve got any questions then please feel free to give us a call at 01562 885211 or email us at info@fieldhousecarehome.com
Breaking down the big care home or home care decision into smaller choices may prove helpful. We’ll start with a basic list and delve into your options for a residential care home or home care in greater detail.
Your needs | Care Home | home care |
| Friendship and company | Yes, all the time with other residents and care staff | With the single carer, when they are there |
| Support for the family | All the time | When the carer visits |
| Health Monitoring | 24/7 | Via local GP |
| Covid 19 safety | Planned and monitored with strict precautions in place | Possible contamination from carer and visitors |
| General safety | Safe environment, many staff available around the clock | Probably safe environment but not professionally reviewed & maintained |
| Nutrition | Full dietary requirements met within weekly fees – fresh home cooked food with plentiful home cooked snacks | What you buy, have delivered and cook |
| Wellbeing and activities | A wide variety of personalised activities on site, and excursions out. A focus on maximising each person’s overall wellbeing and enjoyment | Typically quite limited and dependant on family & friends |
| Accomodation | Variety of types of rooms, fitting various sizes or budget personalised with pictures, furniture, and mementos. | The familiar home you have lived in for so long |
| Specialist care | Yes, on site | Intermittently if at all as increasingly NHS and Local Authorities not visiting people’s houses |
| Familiarity of surroundings | What you bring with you with your own furniture, pictures, mementos etc | Your own house and garden |
| Cost | Around £5.00 per hr (From £850 – £1,200 per week) | Around £20 per hour + |
| Permanent care | Only if needed, respite care available | As required |
Choosing between a Care Home and home care
Friendship and company
Many individuals choose to move into a care home due to the friendships and social interaction they offer. The hours may pass slowly while you wait for your family or a caregiver to visit, but in a care home setting, there’s always someone available for a chat. Our care home in Stourbridge includes residents from various backgrounds and several care workers, who bring both warmth and diversity to the lives of the residents.
With home care, there may be fewer socialising opportunities as the care receiver will be reliant on visits from friends and family.
Support for the family
At Field House, we are committed to ensuring that our residents and their families are as comfortable as possible during our resident’s stay with us. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, you may visit your loved ones at our care home and rest assured that they’re entirely assisted by our staff at all times.
With home care, assistance is only accessible when you or the caregiver are present, with your loved ones left to manage by themselves for the rest of the time.
Health monitoring
Our care home in Stourbridge offers frequent monitoring of various vital signs, including weight, skin conditions, and other important indicators to look for. A highly qualified specialist team treats residents, getting to know them intimately. Our care home is uniquely equipped with a specially trained staff and a safe, secure environment designed to meet those requiring all forms of care, including dementia care. This means concerns are discovered and addressed as quickly as possible. Medical professionals schedule visits when they believe they are needed, record them in the resident’s chart and assist staff when necessary.
The most significant aspect to bear in mind is that the responsibility for your loved one will be transferred to you if you opt for home care. There’ll frequently be a change of caregivers, some of whom are inexperienced, and crucial indicators may go unnoticed. Family members are kind and generous, but they’re also unfamiliar with what to look out for.
Covid safety
At Field House, we’ve established strict measures that surpass government standards to curb the spread of COVID-19. Each of our team members undergoes a test at the onset of every shift, ensuring maximum safety for all our residents.
In contrast, maintaining COVID-19 safety with home care services hinges greatly on the vigilance of the individual and their caregivers. It’s crucial to verify that every care provider, their substitutes, and any visitors entering the home are free from COVID-19, a task that can be difficult to oversee consistently.
General Safety
Falls, trips, and slips account are the second leading cause of accidental deaths among the elderly, therefore keeping residents safe and secure from dangers is a top concern in care homes. At Field House, we maintain a deep understanding of preventing residents from falling by analysing and identifying person-specific causal factors, offering advice on suitable exercises, making use of specialised equipment that is not available in people’s homes, and having access to local NHS fall prevention specialists.
When it comes to home care, the caregiver will only be able to address any problems that may have developed since their last visit if they have time (which is rarely the case), and unfortunately, these caregivers may lack the training and resources found in care homes like Field House.
Nutrition
Field House residents enjoy three delicious and tasty meals each day, all made with fresh ingredients and prepared by trained chefs. Regular snacks and drinks are also available throughout the day to ensure nourishment and hydration.
However, with home care services, meal preparation, and regular drinks become the responsibility of the individual, their loved ones, or a nutrition service.
Wellbeing and Activities
Field House care home provides a diverse range of daily activities designed to cater to our residents’ enjoyment and well-being. These include off-site trips to provide a change of scenery and novel experiences, to keep activities new and exciting. On each day at Field House, our objective is to give each resident the most pleasurable experience possible.
However, in-home care, planning and conducting such activities often fall on the shoulders of the family and friends of the care recipient.
Accommodation
Field House care home residents have the option to choose from a variety of room sizes to best match their needs and budget. Our rooms, professionally maintained, offer an inviting, clean, and elegant ambiance. We happily provide furniture for our residents, and we also encourage bringing personal and sentimental items to make our resident’s space feel more like home. Field House’s common areas are typically used for socialising, daily activities, and special events.
On the other hand, home care means staying in your own home, which may present various maintenance, safety, and cleanliness issues as time progresses.
Specialist Care
Field House care home provides a wide range of specialist services to handle any health issues or unexpected situations that may arise. Our residents will be close to local doctors and hospitals, so any emergency or routine treatment will be handled effectively. Residents can also utilise the services of other health care providers such as occupational therapists, falls experts, and dietitians to help them with their needs.
Whereas, receiving specialist home care services can become particularly technical and costly, depending on the type of home care required.
Familiarity of surroundings
The familiarity of surroundings plays a crucial role when considering care options. At Field House, we encourage residents to bring personal items to decorate their new space, making it feel more like home. Although it is a different environment, a change of setting can offer renewed purpose at any age.
Alternatively, home care offers the comfort of remaining in one’s own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds and smells.
Cost
The cost of a care home in the United Kingdom varies from £850-£1500 per month, depending on demands and room size/facilities, including all accommodation with en-suite, nutritional needs, activities, and all care requirements.
The cost of home-based care varies by location and is generally at least £20 an hour, with visit durations based on the client. There will also be property-wide running costs, including food and water heater upkeep.
In perspective, home care typically costs £20+ per hour compared with an averaged £5 per hour in a care home. If you include all of the costs, as well as constant changes, you’ll see that care homes greatly outweigh home care alternatives.
Should you have any questions or are needing any guidance when choosing whether a care home or home care is the right choice for you or a loved one, then please get in touch, we are here to help.
Call our friendly team on 01562 885211 or email info@fieldhousecarehome.com
