Obtaining Help In The Home Compared With A Care Home

According to some recent figures, the majority of us would like to stay in our own homes when we get older, even if we do get to the stage where we need help with day to day living.

However, in some instances it may be better to move into a care home. Any decision will depend on what you want to do and the type and amount of care that you need. You also have to take into account the cost of care.

There are actually some advantages of moving into a care home, and there are two different types of care home. There are those without nursing staff that just provide help and assistance with personal care, and there are those that have registered nurses on hand to provide nursing care 24 hours and have experienced care assistants providing personal care. Both types of care home are places where you can live and have your care needs met, and in many of them you can have your other half living with you also. Some care homes also have staff who are specifically trained in handling people with dementia.

The advantages of care homes is that they are safe and secure, and there are always trained staff on hand. You don't have to worry about cooking, household chores, or utility bills. You will always have company and very often there will be organised activities for you to take part in if you wish. However, there are some disadvantages also. To begin with you will have to live in one room although you have access to a communal lounge and dining area. You might not like some of the other residents, and in the communal lounge if you want to watch the TV the others may want to watch a different programme from the one you want. You lose a lot of your independence, and your dog will probably not be allowed. It can also be horrifically expensive.

Staying in your own home and receiving help from a care agency in Dorset has its advantages. You can have regular visits from a home care worker who will help you with whatever you need, such as shopping, personal care, housework, preparing meals, and so on. You can also get meals on wheels, although what they provide may not be to your taste, and you can get monitored personal alarms and household equipment and adaptations to help you with everyday tasks. There are usually local day centres where you can socialise with others, and there can be transport to get you to and from them.

Of course, you get to stay in your own home and enjoy your usual support and social contact with friends, neighbours, and family, and you retain control over the care and support that you receive. Furthermore, the value of your home is not taken into account when assessing the amount of benefits you receive and the amount that you have to pay towards the care that you receive. However, it can be lonely if you stay indoors all day for days or weeks on end, only seeing your carer, and despite having an alarm system you can still be at risk from intruders, especially if they know you are vulnerable.

Funding for home help in Bournemouth will depend on the local council, and if it is appropriate they can help you stay in your own home by providing carers, equipment needed, and any specialist services. How much funding you will get will depend on a care needs assessment and how much of it you can afford to pay yourself based on a financial assessment. The local authority can arrange care services for home health in Dorset, or you can choose to receive direct payments and organise your care yourself. You could also be eligible for funding from the NHS, depending on your health needs.

Of course, it is also possible that you might not qualify for funding from the NHS or local authority but even if you do the amount you receive may not be enough to cover all the costs. If this is the case, you will have to think about how you will top up any contributions or pay for it yourself.

However, even if you have to pay for care, there are two benefits that you may be able to claim which are not means tested, so you can get these if your health needs are great enough regardless of your income or savings. These are Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment, which has replaced Disability Living Allowance.

You-Cas is a leading care agency in Dorset which can provide any sort of help in the home that you require with a programme that is tailored specifically to your individual needs.

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