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For many people, elderly care is a necessity they have to consider. Whether it be ageing parents, or other loved ones, the burdens of growing old need to be met with special arrangements. The most typical solutions people resort to are residential care homes and live-in care service. 

On the surface, both options aim to provide care for an elderly individual, who can no longer address life challenges on their own. However, there are major differences between the two services and it is only by knowing more about them that people can make an informed decision of which one is better for them. Following is a quick rundown of what both services are all about. 

Residential care homes 

In essence, care homes are a place where elderly individuals can receive round-the-clock care by professionals. A care home is a secure place where the caregivers can monitor the elderly and respond to any emergencies they have. While it is true that care homes often provide medical attention, they are not always specialised in treating certain conditions. Typically, elderly individuals share the common areas of the place – dining rooms, lounge, bathrooms, gardens, etc. Sometimes, care homes are equipped with individual bedrooms, while in other cases these areas are common as well and facilitate more than one person. The staff in the care facility provides meals, housekeeping services and any assistance with daily tasks – dressing, personal hygiene and mobility. Because the number of people varies, while the staff mostly remains the same, the level of care an elderly individual too can vary. 

The benefits of a care home: 

• The staff is available 24/7 
• The environment is secure 
• Meals are prepared for every resident 
• Socialising opportunities 
• Staff provides supervision of medication and healthcare 
• No maintenance costs and household bills
  
  

The disadvantages of a care home:

• Requires the elderly to leave their home and move to the care facility 
• Less independence 
• The focus is on practical, rather than emotional needs 
  
  

Live-in care services 

Live-in care service enables the elderly to stay in their home and relies on a professional caregiver moving in with them. The caregiver provides support and help to the person, allowing friends and family some freedom to visit less often. The elderly don’t have to leave the familiar and safe environment of their home. The place needs to have a separate bedroom for the caregiver, however, since they will be staying in the home for a prolonged period. The caregivers for this job are well-qualified and trained to support low and mid-level needs. This means they can help the person get about, as well as aid them in tasks like toileting, dressing, washing, etc. They can also prepare meals to match the nutritional and diet needs of the elderly, as well as do some housekeeping. 

The benefits of live-in care service:

• 24/7 support by a caregiver 
• There is no need to move to a care facility 
• Great for elderly families, who can remain together
• Companionship 
• Housekeeping service 
• Continued independence
  
  

The disadvantages of live-in care service:

• The home of the service recipient may need some modifications 
• Needs a spare room for the caregiver 
• Mostly suitable for low and mid-level needs 
  
  

When people gain a better understanding of what makes both the live-in care service and the residential care home service, they can make better decisions about themselves or their elderly loved ones. The most important thing is to consider all aspects of the service and choose in the best interest of the recipient of the service. 

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