Quality of Life - Why a care home isn't always the best option for elderly parents |
Posted: October 31, 2018 |
We all imagine that retirement will go smoothly with a gradual drift towards our final days. Even if we think of moving into a care home at some point we imagine friendly faces, basket weaving classes and making new friends. The reality for some elderly people is quite different. Moving into a care home can be a daunting and confusing prospect. Days may be spent looking at the same four walls as staff try to balance the needs of all the residents and, rather than being an opportunity for socialisation, many older people find it isolating and depressing. Research by the Live in Care Hub shows that your loved one’s health can be in danger too – falls and hip fractures are significantly higher in institutional environments compared to at home. Good health, independence, familiar surroundings and family all come together to promote a high quality of life – one which a live in carer can readily support. More independenceMoving into a care home can result in what little independence your loved one had being stripped away. Even small things like choosing what channel to watch on the television, being able to have a bath when desired, or expressing a preference for what to eat for dinner may be taken away from them making them feel hopeless and worthless. A live in carer will work to ensure that what your relative cando they will be ableto do through supporting them when needed. Fewer fallsUnfamiliar environments and loss of independence are two major factors in the risk that an older person might fall. Remaining in their own home, with a carer on hand when needed, drastically reduces the risk of falls. In the UK the most common reason for an elderly person to be seen in A&E is a fall, and not all those who are admitted to hospital return home. A third fewer falls, and a quarter fewer hip fractures, occur in the home compared to institutional settings. PetsDid you know that a huge 2 millionpeople in the UK say they know someone who was forced to have their pet put to sleep because there was no alternative. Live in home careis a viable alternative to moving into a residential home that doesn’t allow pets. Home care agencies will be able to find carers who are prepared to look after pets as well as people allowing your relative to remain surrounded by their faithful companions. Til death do we partMany marriages and partnerships have to split when one of the pair needs more care than the other can provide. If there is only one space in a care home, or no cohabiting spaces are vacant, then it can be a heartbreaking situation. A live in carer will prevent this situation, allowing your relatives to remain togethe for as long as they draw breath – just like they promised each other in their vows.
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