Disruptions in our lives can have a profound effect on us. At the very least they can cause stress and tension, unpleasant feelings and disorientation, while at their worst, they can cause complete chaos. This is why it’s important to choose the right type of carer for yourself or your loved ones when disruptions start to set in. Whether from injuries, recovering from a prolonged stay in hospital, debilitating illnesses or the normal ageing process, perhaps it’s time to call in a professional to help out. This leads us to the importance of domiciliary care. But what is it and what type of services can you receive with this type of care? We take a closer look.
What is domiciliary care?
Also referred to as “visiting care”, domiciliary care’s meaning in brief refers to care that’s provided to a person in need at their own home. Domiciliary care entails the engagement of the services of a professional carer, who visits the affected individual on a routine basis – starting from as little as half an hour a day to several hours a day or even more – and helps them perform various tasks in order for them to live a more comfortable, serene and uninterrupted life.
Types of domiciliary care services
With that being said, it’s also important to consider the tasks that are performed by the domiciliary carer so that friends, family and loved ones know exactly what to expect. This is why some or most domiciliary care jobs can include a range of the following services:
Companionship care: this is ideal for individuals who have started to feel a sense of loneliness. This may be due to the loss of a loved one or simply those who require a little bit of extra company to help them get through the day well. It may also include offering advice, a friendly ear to chat to or simply the provision of much-needed information.
Multiple visits per day: multiple visits per day can also be arranged. This service is ideal for more high-pressure times of the day such as in the preparation and cleaning up after a meal.
Nursing domiciliary care: this service is provided by qualified nurses who are able to assist with specific health needs. These may include things such as changing dressings or even stoma care.
Housing support: housing support entails quite a wide and full range of services to help your loved one stay within the comfort of their home while having other tasks which were previously easy to deal with on their own taken care of. Such tasks may include general work around the house such as cleaning and doing laundry, paying bills, preparing meals and addressing dietary needs and even taking care of one’s pets.
Personal care: this service is ideal for those who need help with bathing, showering, toileting, administering personal care, dressing, medication management including administering and supervising the intake of medication, doctor visits, help getting around and more.
Benefits of domiciliary care
Opting for domiciliary care in the UK comes with many advantages while the disadvantages are practically non-existent.
Firstly, your domiciliary care company will listen to your needs and provide you with tailored care to suit your personal needs.
Secondly, domiciliary home care reduces the levels of stress experienced by the patient and their family members. This is because it frees up family members to take care of their chores and needs and provides all parties involved with high levels of stability as well as clear expectations.
Next, opting for domiciliary care can be a lot more affordable than moving into a care home. Not to mention the disruptions the latter can cause. It also provides patients with more time for and with their loved ones.
And finally using domiciliary care specialist, your loved ones can enjoy living in the comfort of their own home, enabling them to keep their pets and enjoy greater levels of comfort and life satisfaction.
Why domiciliary care is the option?
Domiciliary care is one of the best services you can choose for your loved one – whether they are ageing, ill, recovering or simply need extra levels of support. Domiciliary care is not limited to seniors. It is also suitable for adults or even children who may need an extra helping hand around the house in order to live a comfortable and undisturbed life.
This type of care is best performed by experts in the field so that you can take advantage of a personalised service that’s tailor made to suit all your or your loved one’s needs. It’s a great way of maintaining continuity of life without unwanted disturbances, or worse, the complete uprooting of your loved one when sending them into a care home.
This type of environment has been shown to disrupt routines, communication, habits and general well-being of the affected person and is one of the reasons why domiciliary care comes so highly recommended.
