Encouraging Independence: The Move Towards In-Home Support

As we age and/or live with ongoing health conditions, there is often a discussion about care that leads to one question: “Where is the best place for me, or my loved one, to receive care?” Care options have been largely dominated by residential care homes and hospitals, but opportunities for supportive, empowering care are becoming increasingly popular. In-home support allows individuals to be empowered in their independence, and to be supported to maintain their routines and sense of dignity that is often lost in institutional settings. 

This blog aims to provide a simple overview of the importance of home-based care, its advantages, its function, and the reason it is emerging as the preferred option for families looking for compassionate and flexible solutions. 

Home-based Care’s Rise in the UK  

Over the past couple of years, there have been some profound changes in society and the way we view health and social care, especially in light of an ageing population and demand for more personalised care options. Families are looking for solutions that allow loved ones to age in place, while receiving professional support. There is a demand for home-based care services that offer an extensive array of in-home supportive services, from personal hygiene to medically complex home healthcare.

To relieve pressure on the NHS and hospitals, government departments, local authorities, and private agencies are investing in home care infrastructure, giving people greater choice and control over how and where they receive their care. This change is a major shift in the way health and social support will be delivered in the UK. 

What In-Home Support Usually Looks Like  

Home care is not simply basic home care. It can be an extensive array of services that are crafted around the individual. There can be one-off short-term arrangements for providing help after surgery or long-term arrangements for chronic conditions. Commonly involved services may include: 

• Personal Care: Help with washing, dressing, grooming and toileting
• Companionship: Regular visits to prevent loneliness and provide emotional support
• Domestic Tasks: Help with meal preparation, light housework, and shopping
• Medical Support: Management of medication, care of wounds, and physiotherapy
• Mobility support: Help with moving around their home safely
• Respite: You may be a primary carer person, and you may also want some temporary support

With this combined factor many individuals can remain at home, in a place they are already accustomed to, with important routines that are preserved, and often then lead to more positive mental health and well-being.

Reasons Families Want In-Home Care  

Across the UK, families are embracing in-home care for several reasons: 

1. Independence  

Being able to remain at home allows individuals to continue their routine and exercise autonomy over their own lives. This is key for those who have dementia, as institutional environments can be disorienting. 

2. Personal Attention and Care  

In residential care, staff have several residents they care for at once, meaning they may not always be able to provide that one-on-one interaction. The benefit of home support is that staff can get to know the individual, develop trust, and deliver their care in a way that works for them. 

3. Cost Effective  

Many home care services are far more financially viable than residential care, especially when care is required 24-hours. Care packages can be altered if clients’ needs change, making home support a scalable solution. 

4. Emotional Security  

There is no comparison to being at home, surrounded by personal treasures, memories, and pets; it provides emotional security that cannot be replicated. Emotional security impacts mental and emotional health. 

5. Reduced Hospital Readmission  

Evidence has shown that people recovering from surgery or illness are less likely to be readmitted to hospital when receiving home care services. Because their condition is monitored regularly and attended to by a dedicated health care assistant, they tend to return to health quicker.

High-Quality Care Providers: What to Expect

Choosing the right care provider is extremely important to ensure that your loved one is safe, comfortable, and working with a professional who can provide effective support. Most reputable care providers use a person-centered method, which also reflects and respects individuals as people, their preferences, cultural backgrounds, and choices related to lifestyle.

Some indicators of quality in-home care include:

• Registered and appropriately trained staff: All carers should undergo DBS checks and undertake ongoing training regularly.
• Individual care plans tailored to the individual: Care plans should be written with input from individuals, their families, and appropriate health professionals.
• Regular continuity of care: Wherever possible, care should be provided by the same carer(s) during visits to build rapport and trust on both sides.
• Availability: Care providers should be able to provide emergency or overnight care, if that is required.
• Regulated practices: Choose services that are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure that practice meets required standards.

Real Life Journey: A Day in the Life of Home Support

To highlight the practical usage of home care, consider the following example. Margaret is a 78-year-old woman who has had an operation on her hip, making walking and other mobility a challenge for her. She can no longer cook, clean, or even attend all her appointments for her physical therapy alone.

A professional carer visits Margaret every morning to assist her with her bathing and dressing routines. Midday visits assisted her with meal preparation while providing companionship. Evening visits provided her with medication and checked that she was ready for bed.  

Over time, with regular physiotherapy and support, Margaret regained independence. Rather than spending a long stretch in rehabilitation, she was able to get much of her recovery in the safety and comfort of going home on her own terms. 

Considerations Before Choosing Care at Home  

While the benefits of at home support are considerable, choosing the right support will take a degree of planning and coordinating 

• Needs assessment: Start with a care needs assessment by your local authority. This assessment identifies the level of support needed and also whether you can access funding.
• Need for safety modifications to the home: Is the home appropriate in terms of walking paths and mobility aids, and will you need to make any modifications to prevent falls or other hazards?
• Care planning: Work with whichever provider you select to develop a care plan that responds to changes in health needs and supports your goals to remain at home.
• Involvement of family and friends: Stay involved as much as you can in reviewing care and support and simply spend time with loved ones.

Emerging Trends and Technologies in Home Care 

Innovations are affecting how home support systems are delivered. Technology now plays a role in enhancing quality of care and communication.

• Telecare solutions: Emergency alarms, medication reminders, and fall detectors.
• Remote medical monitoring: Wearable devices that monitor vital signs and notify carers of anomalies.
• Digital care platforms: Applications that enable families to track care, care visits and care provider progress notes in real time.

As these solutions are increasingly introduced, there’s safety, efficiency and transparency in care in the home for both clients and families. 

In Conclusion 

More than just convenience, in-home support has become an integral part of care. It enables clients to live independently, upholds the dignity of aging in their own home and gives families peace of mind knowing their loved one is receiving the style of care they require, including compassion and professionalism. 

Whether you are looking for a solution for yourself or a loved one, the key is to spend time investigating your options, to find a care experience that will fulfil your needs. 

Many domiciliary care providers now offer a total solution that adjusts around you and your loved ones needs. Whether they are low-level tasks, or more complex conditions, there’s an increasing acceptance that the quality of life can be preserved when additional support is required. 

So, for those who are considering a flexible, person-first solution, domiciliary home care services are not just an alternative option; they quite often represent the ‘best fit’.