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What Are the Benefits of In-Home Care?

Whether it is due to a serious illness, complications from a surgery, or just old age, when the health of an elderly loved one begins to deteriorate, a difficult choice must be made: whether to put the individual in a medical care facility, such as hospice or a nursing home, or to bring high-quality medical care into the home. Of course, confronting this decision can be difficult and emotional, and there is no right answer. However, it should be noted that there are a number of different advantages to in-home care.

Greater comfort. Many elderly patients report that in-home care offers a greater level of comfort. While most medical facilities undoubtedly offer high-level care, there is nothing quite as wonderful as being able to maintain the comforts you love in old age. After all, there is nothing quite like enjoying your favourite TV program in your favourite chair or looking out at the backyard where your children once played from your kitchen window. These simple pleasures are comforts that no one should have to give up, even as one’s health declines. As excellent as many medical facilities are, they simply can’t replace the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Individualised, one-on-one care. In medical facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, health care providers must simultaneously care for dozens if not hundreds of patients. In contrast, in-home health care providers only have one patient to provide for at a time. This results in higher-quality care that is specifically tailored to individual preferences and needs.

Affordability. In-home care can oftentimes be much more affordable than putting an elderly loved one in a medical facility. The cost of medically certified in-home health aids does vary based on a variety of different factors; however, in most cases the hourly cost is somewhere between $25 and $45. In many cases, this is significantly more affordable than a nursing home, which costs on average $248 a day or upward of $90,000 per year.

Greater family support and participation. When an elderly patient is able to receive medical care in his or her own home, it facilitates greater family support of and participation in care. For many aging citizens, the experience of being moved to a medical facility can be a socially isolating one, especially if the facility is far away from the homes of the individual’s family and friends. In-home care can help to maintain precious family bonds.

To find out more about in-home care, visit our Programs and Services page or give us a call on 1300 393 812.