Are Care Homes A Thing Of The Past?

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With medical science constantly progressing the way it is people are living in an older age than ever before. And with that longevity comes the need for care, no matter what you do, you can’t escape the ailments of age, merely push them off for a little bit longer. But where in the last few generations the thing to do was for the elderly to go and live in a care home, that route is quickly becoming less popular.

Over the past decade there has been a lot of light shed on malpractice in care homes and in-home carers, either in physical harm or medical malpractice, making people not want to go down that path, and for children not want to put their parents in that situation. But that doesn't mean that the elderly don't need care. And the vast majority of people don’t have the expertise or the time to care for their ailing loved ones. And not in a horrible way; people need to be able to earn a living, and that isn’t possible when delivering round the clock care. So, no matter how much a person might want to care for their parent, it’s not always possible, especially when they have their own children to look after too. And so having external care is the only option.  

The positive of these horrid stories coming to light is the fact that there has been a severe improvement in select care homes and care agencies. And so if this is the route that someone had to take, there are some good options out there. As we said, it might be the only option due to time and money, but it can also be because the elderly person in question is suffering from a disease like Alzheimer's or dementia. Where once advanced, there is little to no alternative than round the clock care in a secure place like a specialist care home, for their own safety, and often for yours too.  

But many people are opting for in home health care. Which allows the person in question to maintain the majority of their independence while receiving the help and care they need. It can also be more cost-effective, which is great for whoever is footing the bill. In-home care can be full-time or part-time. A live-in carer can be more expensive but can offer the person companionship, which is something a lot of elderly people need most of all.

Other options for care include assisted living. Residential homes where the person is able to live in their own apartment and be completely independent while living in a community of people of a similar age and needs. This easily combats one if the biggest threats to elderly people; loneliness. Over 3.6 million elderly people live alone and can go weeks without speaking to another living soul. Having some sort of companionship can be a huge help to them more than actual medical care.