​Home Care vs Retirement Home. Pros and Cons

Moving from the home you have lived in for a long period is a huge step and one that requires great consideration. Often there is a reluctance to move to an unfamiliar environment. Fortunately, remaining in your home for as long as possible is becoming easier and a lot more achievable. This is largely due to improvements within the aged care industry and a large focus on developing equipment to assist with mobility and daily living.

Additionally, in-home services are available. These services offer cleaning, garden care, assistance with shopping and also personal care. It can be useful for a service care provider to visit daily to check on the well being of their client and to monitor needs continually.

The first step is to arrange for a visit from an Aged Care Assessment Team, also known as ACAT. The ACAT are a local community health based organisation and are government funded. This can be facilitated by making a call directly to your local ACAT. They will usually undertake a phone interview to determine next steps. An in home face to face meeting is most likely.

This provider will make recommendations for equipment and services that will assist you to stay in your home longer. This recommendation will also be used to refer a client to a non private aged care facility.

Detailed information is available on the My Aged Care Government website.

Pros and Cons of staying in your home

Pros

• Familiarity and comfort
• Flexibility of lifestyle

Cons

• It can be isolating if living alone
• There may be difficulty maintaining the home, meals and personal care
• Onsite health care may not be available
• There are however plenty of benefits in moving to a retirement home and this can be a more preferred option for many.

Pros and Cons of moving to a Retirement Home / Aged Care Facility

Pros

• 24 hour staff and nursing assistance to monitor and assess health and wellbeing
• Less isolating. Many facilities offer social activities and outings
• Daily Care provided in accordance with needs. Many aged care facilities offer a range of accommodation and support to suit low care, medium care and high care needs.
• For some, there is more regular and ongoing contact with other people. This includes staff and other residents.

Cons

• Loss of independence
• Some facilities may not offer enough lifestyle and leisure activities to occupy a resident

Additionally, in-home services are available. These services offer cleaning, garden care, assistance with shopping and also personal care. It can be useful for a service care provider to visit daily to check on the well being of their client and to monitor needs continually.

The first step is to arrange for a visit from an Aged Care Assessment Team, also known as ACAT. The ACAT are a local community health based organisation and are government funded. This can be facilitated by making a call directly to your local ACAT. They will usually undertake a phone interview to determine next steps. An in home face to face meeting is most likely.

This provider will make recommendations for equipment and services that will assist you to stay in your home longer. This recommendation will also be used to refer a client to a non private aged care facility.

Detailed information is available on the My Aged Care government website.

If you are planning to stay in your home for as long as possible, the following products could greatly assist you.

Rollators and Walkers: These are useful for stability and reduce the potential of falling. Most are designed for use both inside and outdoors.

Pressure Care Mattresses: For use when a user is prone to pressure injuries or spends a prolonged period in bed.

Lift Recliner Chair: Not only designed for comfort, recliner chairs can be invaluable for helping the user in to a standing position.  Many will also fully recline to a resting position.

Ceiling Hoist Rail System: Installation of a lifting hoist which runs along rail installed in the ceiling. This makes transfers much easier and reduces the number of care staff required. Transfers include bed to commode, wheelchair or bathroom.