Live in care at Home – Elderly home care blog

Why choose care in your own home and not use a nursing home?

It might be you are viewing this web site and at the point of deciding whether or not you should stay in your own home or whether you should consider going into a nursing or care home. You might be looking for care on behalf of a loved one or for a friend and trying to help them decide which route is better, a care home or for them to remain in their own home and retain their independence.

We have put this page together to try and help you make that decision and you are quite welcome to contact us to ask any personal questions you might have on this extremely important decision.

Care in your own home – the benefits

- Familiar surroundings – there is no better place than home, both for the person receiving the care and for the visiting family. Most people would prefer to be in their own home, whether it be returning from a holiday spent in an hotel or in this case being care for at the winter of life. The surroundings are familiar and you are free to do what you want to do.

- Retain your independence – retaining independence is important for most people, which might mean something as simple as being able to see family and friends whenever you wish, as compared to having more strict visiting hours in a care home. It also extends to being able to keep the good old trusted friend – your pets! If you have a dog or a cat or perhaps a parrot, if you decide on the nursing home route you will not be able to keep your pet. Whereas if you stay in your own home, there is no problem with keeping your pets and we can help you in looking after these for you. There is no question about the important role a pet can play in someone’s overall health and well being – there is nothing like a friendly dog wagging his tail to bring a smile you your face!

- Cost of the care – The cost of care provided in your own home is not that much different from the care provided in a nursing home. Our charges start at around £650 per week for a full time live-in carer. A nursing home in Sudbury charges between £645 and £665 per week for a room in their care home.

- No disruption – Moving at any time of life is regarded as one of the most stressful events and this is no different at a stage in life where you require extra help and support, if anything it might be even more stressful. It is therefore, vital to reduce any stress and by staying in your own home there is no disruption to the way you live. If a special bed is required or a stair lift or whatever other adaptation to your home is necessary – these can all be done at a minimum of disruption to both the person receiving the care and to the family.

- One on one care – If you are in a nursing home you have to ’share’ your carers with many other residence, whereas if you use Care at Home you will retain the services of your own personal carer. You will have a carer living with you 24 hours a day seven days a week who is there to help you and to be your companion.

- Local friends and sites – Depending upon your level of mobility there is nothing better than to be able to go out and visit your local park or your local pub and to see your neighbours and friends – if you move to a nursing home you will have to make new friends and not have your familiar local amenities to hand.

- Your own menu – You are living in your own home so have a choice in what you have to eat and what is cooked for you by our carers – if your favorite dish is Shepard’s Pie, then tell your carer and they will happily oblige.