Home Assistance for the Elderly: A Guide to In-Home Care and Support Options

Home assistance for the elderly offers an excellent way for your loved one to get the support they need in the place they feel most comfortable and secure. For many families, the thought of a relative moving into residential care is a difficult one, making in-home support or home care services an increasingly popular choice. It allows your family member to maintain their independence and familiar routines while receiving professional, compassionate help.

This guide will walk you through the different options for at-home care for the elderly, the signs that extra support might be needed, paying for home care, and how to organise the right kind of help. We understand that arranging care and support can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to provide you with clear, reassuring information, helping you make the best decision for your loved one and your family.

What is home assistance for the elderly?

Home assistance, home care, or domiciliary care is a broad term for professional care services delivered in a person’s own home. It is designed to help older people with various aspects of daily living, enabling them to live safely and comfortably. This type of elderly care support is flexible and tailored to the specific care needs of the person receiving it.

Instead of moving into a care home, your loved one can receive help at home, ranging from a few hours a week to full-time live-in care. The aim is to maximise quality of life and help them continue living in the place they know and love. It offers a practical solution that supports independence while giving you valuable peace of mind.

Why do families choose home assistance over care homes?

Making decisions about elderly care is a significant step. Many families focus on the clear benefits of arranging care for elderly in home settings. Domiciliary care provides a way for your loved one to get the help they need without the upheaval of moving.

Here are some of the key reasons why families choose home care for the elderly:

• Familiar surroundings: Your loved one can remain in their cherished own home, surrounded by their memories, possessions, and community. This familiarity is especially beneficial for people with conditions like dementia.
• Personalised one-to-one support: Unlike the shared staffing in residential care, homecare provides a dedicated carer. This ensures your loved one receives focused attention and a truly personalised service.
• Maintaining independence: Staying at home care allows a person to keep their established routines, hobbies, and social connections. They decide when to eat, sleep, and see visitors, helping them stay independent.
• Greater family involvement: It’s easier for you and other family members to visit and be actively involved in your loved one’s care when they are at home. A carer can even help them host you.
• Cost-effective: Depending on the level of need, homecare costs can often be more manageable than the expense of a full-time residential placement. It offers a flexible way to manage the cost of care.

What types of home assistance are available for the elderly?

Homecare services are not one-size-fits-all. They can be tailored to provide the exact level of extra support your loved one requires. This bespoke approach ensures they get the help they need to make life easier.

Domestic Support

Sometimes, all that’s needed is a helping hand with everyday tasks. A carer can visit to assist with:

• General cleaning and tidying
• Doing the laundry and changing bed linen
• Washing up
• Gardening

This type of support helps keep your loved one’s home clean and comfortable, reducing the physical strain of household chores.

Personal Care

For those who find it harder to manage daily routines, personal care offers dignified assistance. This can involve gentle help with:

• Bathing, showering, and dressing
• Hair brushing and grooming
• Using the toilet
• Assistance with stoma or catheter care

Our carefully selected carers are trained to provide this support with the utmost respect and sensitivity, ensuring your loved one feels comfortable.

Companionship Care

Loneliness can have a big impact on health and well-being. A home care companion can provide friendly conversation and social interaction. A caring companion can share hobbies, watch television, or simply be a reassuring presence in the home. This service is perfect for maximising social engagement and preventing isolation.

Overnight Care

If you are worried about your loved one being alone during the night, overnight care services can provide reassurance. Night care can be arranged in two ways:

• Sleeping Night: The carer sleeps in the home but is on hand to assist if needed a couple of times during the night.
• Waking Night: The carer remains awake all night to provide continuous support for people who wake frequently or have complex needs.

Live-in Care

For comprehensive, around-the-clock support, live-in care is an excellent option. A dedicated live-in carer moves into your loved one’s home to provide continuous care. This is a great alternative to a care home, offering 24-hour peace of mind for you and constant support for them. Tiggo Care can provide live-in care tailored to your family's needs.

Condition-led Care

Many older people are living with specific medical conditions. While we are not medical experts, our carers can provide support for people with a diagnosis through our condition-led care services. This includes assistance for those with dementia care needs, Parkinson’s, or recovering from a stroke, helping them manage their daily lives as advised by their GP.

Respite Care

Caring for a family member is rewarding but can also be demanding. Respite care provides a short-term solution, perhaps for a few weeks, to give the primary carer a well-deserved break. It can also be organised quickly if you unexpectedly need cover.

Post-Operative Care

Coming home after a stay in the hospital can be challenging. Through our post-operative care services, a carer can provide temporary support to help your loved one recover safely. This includes assistance with mobility, personal care, and ensuring they follow the discharge advice from medical care professionals.

Palliative Care

For those with life-limiting illnesses, palliative care provides comfort and support to help them live as well as possible for as long as possible. Our carers work alongside GPs and the district nurse to provide compassionate end-of-life care in the comfort of your loved one's own home.

How to know when home assistance is needed?

Recognising the right time to arrange home care help for seniors can be difficult. Often, the signs are subtle and appear over time. If you notice any of the following, it might be the right moment to explore your options.

• Difficulty with Daily Tasks: Your loved one may be struggling with cooking, cleaning, or personal grooming.
• Increased Forgetfulness: This could include forgetting to take medication or missing important appointments.
• Changes in Appearance: You might notice a decline in personal hygiene or that their home is becoming untidy.
• Recent Falls or Mobility Issues: An increase in accidents or unsteadiness can be a clear sign that more support is needed.
• Social Withdrawal or Loneliness: Your relative may seem more isolated or less interested in their usual activities.
• After a Hospital Stay: Recovery can be slow, and your loved one might need temporary help to get back on their feet.

Trust your instincts. If you feel that your loved one could benefit from some extra support to make their life safer and more enjoyable, it’s worth having a conversation.

How to arrange home assistance for the elderly?

Once you’ve decided to explore elderly in-home care, the process of arranging it is straightforward. You can either approach a provider like us directly or go through your local council.

Here are the typical steps:

1. Contact Your Local Council: You can start by asking your local council's adult social services for a care needs assessment. This is free and available to everyone. The assessment will determine what kind of help your loved one needs and if they are eligible for financial support. A social worker will discuss their needs, but cannot force them to move into a care home if the council thinks it is the best option.
2. Undergo a Financial Assessment: If the needs assessment shows that your loved one is eligible for support, the council will carry out a financial assessment. This is means-tested and looks at their income and savings to see if they need to contribute to the cost of their care. In England, if their capital is over £23,250, they will likely need to fund their own care or self-fund.
3. Receive a Personalised Care Plan: The council will create a personalised care plan outlining the support they will receive. If the council is contributing financially, you may be offered a direct payment. This gives you the funds to arrange your own care with care providers of your choice, such as hiring your own carer or using homecare agencies.
4. Choose a Care Provider: Whether you are self-funding or using direct payments, the next step is to find the right provider. Look for homecare agencies regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), like Tiggo Care. It is also wise to check if they are members of the Homecare Association. You can choose between visiting care, with regular visits, or a full-time live-in carer.

When you contact us, our friendly team will arrange a free consultation to discuss your needs. We will work with you to create a bespoke plan and match your loved one with one of our compassionate, carefully selected carers. We ensure our carers have the right skills to meet your family's needs.

Conclusion

Choosing home assistance for the elderly is a positive step towards ensuring your loved one can live life to the fullest in their own home. From companionship and help with daily tasks to more complex expert care, there is a flexible solution to suit every need. This approach offers an excellent alternative to residential care, promoting independence and providing reassurance for the whole family.

At Tiggo Care, we specialise in providing high-quality home care services. We understand that finding the right support is a deeply personal process. Our care experts are here to guide you, creating a personalised care plan that respects your loved one's wishes and helps them live safely and happily at home. Please contact our friendly team to discuss how we can support your loved one in their own homecare journey.