Residential care homes are a care option for elderly people. Here we look at their pro’s and con’s to help you make an informed choice for your loved one when the time comes.
There are lots of care options available for those who need them including options like sheltered housing, live-in care/ home care and residential homes.
Residential care homes are considered when an elderly relative’s care needs cannot be met at home any more. There are pro’s and con’s to going into a residential home, and understanding those pro’s and con’s will help you and your relative make an informed decision when the time comes.
Here are the pro’s and con’s of residential homes:
The Pro’s Of Residential Homes
- Residential care homes are extremely safe and offer the people being cared for there 24/7 specialised help so all their needs are met. Nursing homes provide specialist help from a qualified nurse, and residential homes ensure somebody is at hand all the time if needs be.
- Your relative will have their own room which they can make their own. They will have at least some of their treasured pictures and ornaments, plus entertainment like the television.
- Meals will be provided to the residents, which meansthere is no worry of danger when it comes to cooking, and the nutritional needs of each person is met.
- One major pro of residential homes is the social aspect. Your relative will be around others that are the same age and will be able to socialise as much as they want to. Those with residential care home jobs also tend to be very passionate about elderly care, and will go out of their way to brighten the life of your loved one.
- Your relative will go on organised outings with their friends from the residential home, enabling them to have events to look forward to and enabling them to still have a great quality of life.
- You will feel reassured that your relative is looked after and safe at all times.
- Your relative’s medical needs will be met, and they will be under observation so if they are ill in any way they will get the care they need straight away.
The Con’s Of Residential Care Homes
- Care homes cost a lot of money, and this can be very tricky to deal with. There is help available but often a person has to have very low capital to get any financial help. A person may have to sell their home to pay for care, and even then that money can run out and they risk being moved to a less expensive care home.
- It can be hard to find a care home that ticks all the boxes which has availability for your relative. Finding somewhere close, with good reviews, and somewhere your relative likes, can be very hard and placing them somewhere they don’t love can be heart-wrenching for the family.
- It can be difficult for anyone to move into a place which is completely unfamiliar to them. They may not deal with the upheaval well at their age, and possibly worse if they have a condition like dementia.
- A person may feel very isolated because they have been taken away from their friends, family and neighbours.
- Even if those who work at the residential care home are friendly, your relative may not be open to forming a friendship with them.
- You may feel guilty for placing your relative in a care home and not looking after them yourself.
- Your relative may feel ‘shipped off’ when they are placed in a care home and despite explanation, they may not understand why you cannot care for them or why they cannot stay in their own home.
- Your relative may struggle losing their independence.
- There will be a certain level of privacy your relative has, but not as much as they would expect at home.
- Your relative will only have a room that is their own, not a full home so they will have to give up many of their treasured possessions.
- Moving into a residential home may mean your relative has to give up their pets and they may even be split from their partner, which can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing.
Every situation and person is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. In any situation where a relative needs round the clock care, it is so important to consider every option, including residential homes, live-in care and sheltered accommodation, to see what could work best for all involved. The more you know, the more of an informed decision you can make.
