WHY IS PRIVATE HOME CARE IMPORTANT?
- Luxe Care
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Many of us begin to think about the best care options as we get older. Most people will prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes, some might decide to go to retirement villages with lots of facilities and people their own age around them.
Residential aged care is most often the final option considered when self-care or family care options are exhausted. The significance of private home care will be discussed in this blog, as well as the reasons why more people opt to stay as long as they can at home.
Private home care should be taken into consideration for a variety of compelling reasons, including independence, comfort, and practicality. Continue reading to learn more!
The Benefits Of Private Home Care
Private in-home care is a type of care that is provided to people in the convenience of their own homes. It’s a type of care that is becoming more and more popular as people try to age in place while still maintaining their independence, comfort, and familiar surroundings. The numerous advantages of paying for private in-home care will be covered in this section, including:
1). Comfort and Familiarity
When an individual receives care in their own home, they are surrounded by the things that bring them comfort and familiarity. This can help reduce anxiety, stress, and depression and can improve their overall quality of life.
2). Independence
Private home care allows individuals to continue living their daily lives with as much independence as possible. This can include activities such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation, as well as more complex tasks like managing medications or dealing with mobility issues.
3). Customisation
Private home care is highly customisable, which means that plans for care can be tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of each individual. This allows for a level of personalisation that is not possible in a more institutional setting.
4). One-On-One Attention
Individuals receive individualised attention from their caregiver when they receive private in-home care, which can foster trusting relationships. Better overall health outcomes, including less stress and better mental health, can result from this level of focus and individualised connection.
5). Cost-Effective
Private home care can occasionally be more affordable than other care options, like a nursing home or assisted living facility. This is due to the fact that people are only paying for the care they require and not for the inherent costs of operating a facility or round the clock staff.
6). Quality Of Care
Individuals can receive high-quality care that is catered to their unique needs because private home care providers are frequently highly skilled and experienced. Better health outcomes, a higher quality of life, and mental stability for the person and their family can result from this.
The Drawbacks Of Alternative Care Options
Whilst alternatives to In-Home Care have their place when care requirements are well in excess of what can be afforded or realistically provided at home, there are some drawbacks that make it a less attractive option if you do have the ability and resources to receive support to stay at home.
A lack of privacy and personal space is one of the biggest issues and whilst aged care facilities work hard to ensure your room and space are considered your “home” this is not a substitute in many ways. Sharing rooms and common areas with a community of other people is frequently required of residents, which can in some instances be uncomfortable or confusing. Residents may find it challenging to develop deep relationships with others as a result of this lack of privacy.
Even though residential aged care and assisted living facilities can offer a sense of structure and community, the lack of privacy, highly structured environment and exposure to many different people may or may not be optimal for some. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative care option if you’re looking for one and then choose the one that’s best for you or a loved one based on those considerations.
On the other side of this discussion, some people refuse to consider their limitations or plan for the impact that these might have on their normal day to day life and stubbornly resist any advice or effort to make changes either in their own homes or move to more supportive environments. Unfortunately, this lack of planning and foresight can see many of their choices and independence significantly reduced in the event of an adverse health event or serious injury resulting from a fall or some other accident. Failing to plan for changes that sensibly promote their safety and well-being can severely compromise the elderly, who remain at home well past their ability to support themselves, even with some assistance.
It is a sad reality that where this occurs, people can be at significantly higher risk of serious injury related to falls and other accidents in or around their home. There are increased safety risks associated with activities of daily living, showering, toileting, cooking cleaning and gardening and by not maintaining regular and essential hygiene and/or malnutrition through inappropriate food and fluid intake. Whilst in-home care can manage a level of support in these areas but home care packages can only provide in home support for a specific number of hours of carer services a week. At some point for some people this is simply not enough for them to remain home safely.
Planning for all eventualities is important and being open-minded and understanding of your limitations as well as where resources cannot continue to fund in home care services past the point of available resources and affordability. Being realistic and forward-thinking about the limitations of family support if it is available and when decisions should be made on the next stage of living with more care support is very important. This will afford a level of control, independence and dignity and could help avoid losing these by refusing to contemplate actual or potential physical and mental limitations should they eventuate.
The Importance Of Choosing The Right Care Provider
When it comes to private in-home care, picking the right provider is crucial. Here are some important things to think about:
1). Quality Of Care
The Aged Care Royal Commission made many one of the most important of which was its recommendation that clinically based service provision led by Registered Nurses is essential to promoting and protecting the aged be it in a residential facility or in their homes. It’s critical to choose a caregiver that has strong clinical-based care services with registered nurses assessing and providing ongoing supervision of care. A registered nurse does not need to provide all the care but must be able and available to readily review and assess care plans and clinical changes in clients.
Service providers who have a good mix of registered nursing staff, qualified carers and companion carers, who support their staff and provide knowledgeable, skilled, and enthusiastic carers to assist people to live safely and comfortably in their own homes and community.
2). Compatibility
It’s critical to choose a caregiver who gets along well with the person receiving care. A patient, kind, and compassionate caregiver will go a long way toward making sure your loved one is comfortable and well cared for.
3). Cost
Private in-home care can be expensive if not supported by government home care packages. The Government has now capped fees charged by Home Care Package providers at up to 30% of their package fees. Support at Home changes due to come into effect on July 1 2025 will see much of the government support of home care packages change to have more levels of care packages, co-payments for non clinical care services and changes to funding for home modifications, IT and Palliative/End of Life Care. For more information on Support at Home, please refer to the My Aged Care website.
Some people choose to augment the Home Care Package funded services with their own paid for care to bump up the level of support provided. Again, comparing providers and the level of care and support they provide is imperative to assess the services that can be afforded and the quality of the service provided. This information should be easily accessible and readily provided by all in-home care providers. Comparison information on In-Home Care providers and Residential Aged Care providers can be found on the My Aged Care website.
4). Availability
How do you ensure that the care provider you select is able to provide the level of services you or your loved one needs when assistance and support are required? Unfortunately, it is not an easy assessment to make as all providers will in the first instance say they can meet all care needs, as they should. The only way of really knowing is by talking to someone else who has used this provider and seeing what their experiences have been, reading reviews and seeing if there are any trends in the reviews, positive or negative about staffing practices.
5). Reputation
Conduct research and read online reviews to learn what others have to say about the care provider you’re thinking about hiring. Look for a service provider with a good reputation and who is well-thought-of in the community.
Final Thoughts
To summarise, individuals who require assistance with daily tasks and overall well-being can benefit significantly from receiving private in-home care. It’s understandable why many elderly and people living with disabilities favour the option of receiving support and assistance provided in familiar surroundings and comfort they know in their own homes.
To ensure that you or a loved one receives the best care possible, carefully weigh all your options for care and select the most suitable provider. Private in-home care can improve a person’s quality of life, whether it’s to maintain independence, get assistance with daily tasks, or just be more comfortable.
If you’re looking for high-quality and compassionate care for yourself or a loved one, it’s time to explore the benefits of private in-home care.
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