The Similarities and Differences Between Supported Living and At-Home Care
Home care specialists outline the differences between supported living and care provided in your own home, clarifying how each might work
Families and individuals deciding how to manage the care needs of a loved one or themselves often have several potential options, including a care or nursing home, at-home support or supported residential living.
There are contrasts between at-home care and transitioning into a new living space, but the key is to ensure everybody accessing care makes informed decisions based on the solutions that are right for them. Great care should protect the independence and welfare of the care recipient, and deliver warmth, companionship, and emotional support alongside practical care.
The home care specialists at Guardian Angel Carers outline what families might expect from both at-home care and supported living to clarify how each type of care works.
What Is At-Home Care and Who Is It Suitable For?
Home-based care is just as it sounds; a local manager or coordinator will discuss the needs, preferences, and wishes of the care recipient with them or their loved ones and put in place care delivered in the person's own home.
At-home carers provide varied services, which might range from pet care and domestic help to meal preparation, personal care, enjoying days out or social occasions, or specialist care to help with rehabilitation, frailty, particular health challenges or ongoing conditions like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Understanding the Types of Home Care
Much depends on the individual’s health, age, mobility, requirements and the tasks they would like help with, and those they would prefer to complete independently, but home care can be structured as:
- Visiting care: A carer visits the person on set days and times, as many times a day or week as required, and for as long as needed, following an agreed-upon care schedule.
- Overnight care—this might be waking or sleeping care, but it essentially means that a carer remains in the person's home overnight. The carer might help with bedtime routines, provide reassurance and assistance with mobility or medications during the night, or be on hand to help in case of an emergency.
- Live-in care is more involved. In this type of care, a carer or rotating team of carers live with the person, with their own sleeping quarters and a defined routine. This ensures the individual has all the help, friendship, and company they need while the carer has appropriate breaks and rest.
Although the type of care, the experience and qualifications of the carer, and the amount of time they spend with the care recipient can differ considerably, the focus is on personalised, professional help without expecting a person to leave familiar surroundings, disrupt their routines or leave behind pets and much-loved possessions.
What Is Supported Living and How Does it Work?
Supported living is often described as a compromise between staying at home and receiving home care and moving to a residential care home, where several residents live together, usually with private accommodation and shared communal spaces.
Moving into supported living can be complex, but the variance from a care home is that the person still has some degree of independence and the privacy or having their own home. A supported living facility will often be one of the following:
- A block of one or two-bedroom apartments – with the latter catering to couples or allowing residents to have guests.
- Studio flats with a private bathroom and kitchenette.
- Shared housing is more similar to a residential home, although with a smaller number of residents and private bedrooms, normally with an en suite.
- Single-occupancy properties such as a house, often within an estate or purpose-built gated community.
Each resident can manage their routines, decide how to spend each day and deal with chores, tasks, social events, shopping and paying bills independently.
However, a centre manager, care team, visiting therapists, and catering staff can step in as needed, either regularly checking on each resident's well-being, providing meal preparation or delivery services, taking care of maintenance and rubbish disposal, or organising cleaning.
How Is Supported Living Different From a Care Home?
Some aspects of supported living are comparable to a residential care home in that each resident relocates to the allocated living space, can request additional support as and when required, and may have communal facilities like a garden, gym, sensory room or dining space – depending on the set-up and layout.
The difference is that residents are treated more as tenants and have autonomy over how they live. While care homes are largely communal, with meals served together, group activities and entertainment, and a uniform routine and schedule for most residents, supported living provides greater independence.
For example, if care home residents want to go shopping or visit the park, they may need to speak with their key worker or the care coordinator to schedule a date and time or attend with a group. In supported living, people can make their own travel arrangements and leave whenever they like.
However, if there are some tasks or areas they need support with, including mobility, the supported living team can make those plans on their behalf or provide help with transport.
Which Is Better: Home Care or Supported Living?
There are no right or wrongs, nor one care solution that will be ideal for every family. The best possible care structure will depend on numerous factors, including:
- The health and cognition of the person needing care.
- The amount of support they need with personal care, such as washing and dressing.
- Their ability to complete tasks and chores independently and comfortably.
- Their preferences and personality: some people thrive in group care homes and enjoy the social aspect, whereas others wish to protect their privacy and independence and would strongly prefer to live alone or with a partner.
Families often wish to organise home care as a first choice since the assurance of remaining at home, surrounded by friendship groups and communities, and with continuity and familiarity are important.
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About Guardian Angel Carers:
Guardian Angel Carers is a leading home care provider dedicated to delivering compassionate, personalised care services. With a strong focus on independence, dignity, and quality of life, the company supports individuals in the comfort of their own homes, offering a range of services from companionship to complex care needs.
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Source Company – https://www.gacarers.co.uk/