Important takeaways:
There are a number of reasons as to why a care home is beneficial:
- 1.9 million older people in the UK feel ignored or invisible – care homes offer a safe space to combat loneliness.
- Care home residents are looked after with 24-hr help and assistance.
- Comfort. Care home residents do not need to worry about additional bills for heating and electricity once they have moved in.
- Care homes offer peace of mind for relatives and loved ones.
Deciding whether to move a loved one into a residential care home can be a difficult and often daunting decision to make.
To help you with your decision, we’ve compiled a list of 8 advantages of residential care to shine a light on the positives for you and your loved ones.
1) A safe environment with professionals
One of the main benefits of residential care homes is that they are a safe and secure space for elderly residents, offering relatives peace of mind in the knowledge that their loved one is being looked after.
Trained staff are always available within a residential care home, and if a nursing home is required, residents will have access to 24-hour care from trained nurses for their medical conditions. If a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, they will get the additional care they need.
2) Regular meals and proper nutrition
Good nutrition is important throughout our lives, but it is especially important as we get older to conserve energy and maintain our health.
It is understandable that appetites dwindle as we age, but when older people forget meals, lose weight drastically, or their ability or willingness to prepare meals declines, moving into a residential care home may be the safest option.
3) Staying warm
We all want to live in comfort – but many elderly people cannot afford to heat their homes, especially with the cost of gas and electricity being what it is today, with many at risk of catching hypothermia, which is particularly dangerous for older people.
One advantage of a care home is that the cost of heating is covered in care home fees, so residents won’t need to worry about the cost of turning the heating on.
Residents get regular and nutritious meals and are kept hydrated, alleviating stress felt by loved ones. Some care homes serve food to a resident’s room if desired, but one benefit of a care home is the communal dining room where residents can share meals with company.
4) Companionship
According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, 1.9 million older people in the UK feel ignored or invisible, and more than a million people say they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member.
Loneliness can have a detrimental impact on the mental and physical health of an older person, but living in a care home offers residents the opportunity to have companionship day and night, enjoying meals and discussions together, and residents can also take part in communal activities and outings.
5) Activities and outings
According to Age UK, 47% of people aged 75-84 and 70% of people aged over 85 are physically inactive. Being active is particularly important as we get older, because the ageing process causes loss of muscle mass and bone density, affecting our strength, balance and posture.
To combat lack of both physical and mental activity, care homes offer numerous activities to keep residents busy and stimulated, which may include:
- Local walks
- Arts & crafts
- Baking
- Gentle exercise classes
- Quizzes
- Music sessions
- Day trips
- Shopping
- Board games
- Tea dances
- Bingo
6) Privacy
Socialisation is important for people of all ages, however, it is just as important for us to have access to our own, personal space.
In a care home, residents have their own room where they can retreat to whenever they need time to themselves.
7) Home comforts
Just because someone needs to move into a residential care home, doesn’t mean they can’t make their space their own.
Bringing photos and favourite blankets and bed covers will make a room feel much more homely, and some care homes allow smaller pieces of furniture to be brought, while others allow residents to bring their pets with them, too.
Care homes are usually more than happy to help residents personalise their space to ensure they feel more settled.
8) Help with daily tasks
A huge advantage of residential care is that care home staff can help residents with daily activities like bathing, dressing and medication reminders. This benefits care home residents by giving them the help they need while also allowing them to maintain a level of their own independence.
And of course, all shopping, cooking and cleaning is taken care of too, so residents will no longer need to struggle with domestic chores.
Are you looking for a care home?
If you’re considering a care home or nursing home, Care Sourcer can help you. We have details on all types of social care services, including care homes and nursing homes in our searchable online directory of local care agencies.