Choosing between home care and an aged care facility? Discover the benefits and challenges of each option to make an informed decision that suits your needs and preferences. Deciding between home care and an aged care facility depends on various factors including your loved one’s health, preferences, and support needs. Here are some considerations for each option:

Home Care

Benefits:

• Comfort and Familiarity: Staying in one’s own home can be more comfortable and less disorienting.
• Personalised Care: Care can be tailored to your loved one’s specific needs and routines up to 24 hours per day with Yellow Door Care.
• Independence: Allows for greater independence and flexibility in daily activities.
• Cost: Depending on the level of care your loved one needs, it can sometimes be less expensive than moving to a full-time care facility.
• Specialised Services: Access to allied health such as physiotherapy and podiatry in your own home
• Choice of Meal Service: Choose your own meal service or have a care worker assist you with meal preparation in your own home.

Challenges:

• Care Limitations: Depending on the level of care required, home care might not be sufficient, especially for those with complex medical needs. If your loved one requires more than 16 hours of care per week, then there will likely be out of pocket expenses called “Top-Up” fees.
• Isolation: Your loved one might feel isolated if there are fewer social interactions compared to an aged care facility.
• Caregiver Burnout: Family caregivers can experience stress and fatigue, impacting their own well-being. Home Care like Yellow Door can provide the assistance you need to help your loved one stay at home by providing your respite so that you can continue your caring role.

Aged Care Facility

Benefits:

• 24/7 Care: Provides continuous medical and personal care, which is ideal for those with significant health needs.
• Social Interaction: An aged care facility will likely offer a social program with other residents which provide social activities and community interactions, which can reduce feelings of loneliness.
• Respite for Families: Offers relief to family members who might otherwise be primary caregivers.

Challenges:

• Adjustment Period: Moving to a new environment can be challenging and require adjustment. Changing your home environment later in life can be quite challenging for everyone.
• Cost: Can be more expensive, depending on the level of care and facility.
• Less Flexibility: Structured schedules and routines according to the facility may not suit your loved one’s preferences.
• Location: Sometimes the best aged care facility to suit your loved one will be far away from family members

Ultimately, the choice depends on the specific needs and wishes of the individual, as well as the practicalities of each option. It might be helpful to consult with a healthcare professional or a care advisor to determine the best fit. To read more on the pros and cons of Home Care versus Aged Care Facility, read another blog on this topic here.

To compare the costs of an aged care facility and home care, head to Aged Care Guide online or My Aged Care for their comparison tools or use our simple Home Care Budget Calculator to create your own home care budget. Our specialist team is also here to answer any questions you might have.