Home care is continuing to expand across Scotland as more families opt for the services to look after their loved ones. 

Allowing greater freedom and independence, trained and qualified professionals are able to give people a much more personalised level of care. 

Creating a more comfortable and less clinical way of providing care inside the home, it is no surprise that there are a host of benefits attached to it. 

If you are considering care at home for a loved one, here are some of the important benefits that decision could give you:

1. UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

By choosing home care, the care assistant is able to give their complete attention, energy and time to the individual, rather than going between multiple patients in a nursing home or hospital ward. 

Completely focused on your family member, the service is able to be much more attentive and detailed, with the carer becoming aware of their routines, habits and needs. 

In addition, this one-on-one time allows both the carer and the individual to develop a much closer relationship, a bond that is extremely important when delivering care at home. 

2. COST

There are different methods of paying for the cost of private home health care, however as a service it is considerably more affordable than residential care. 

Nursing homes and other facilities come not only with the cost of care, but also that of utilities and living there full time. 

Home care is much easier financially, and offers both live-in and live-out options to suit the needs of the individual. 

Simply paying for the specific kind of care you need, it can often work out cheaper. However, it's important to remember to choose a quality and professional service that will carry out care well. not just go for who is the cheapest provider. 

You can read more about how to find the best home care service here: https://acoup.co.uk/article/4/How-to-choose-the-best-home-health-care-service 

3. KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER

Working to provide completely patient-centric care, live-in care services also allow families and loved ones to remain close when one of them needs additional support. 

Keeping them out of a residential home, the individual is able to either still live with their family in their home, or stay in their own home and have their loved ones visit at any time. 

With residential care often restricted by policies or visiting hours, many families are not able to spend all the time they want together. 

The personalised service also allows for the individual's family to develop a relationship with the person or people caring for their loved one in a relaxed environment. 

4. INDEPENDENCE & FREEDOM

As mentioned, residential care can have restrictions on how those living there go about their day, from what time they eat to when they can go out and have visitors. 

In contrast, home health care is planned completely around the individual, with the caregiver working on their schedule, not the other way around. 

When creating a bespoke care plan, the individual has their say on how their day will be planned out, letting them do things at their own pace and leisure. 

Staying at home and in your own familiar environment can also have a huge impact on your mental wellbeing, allowing you to receive care where you feel safe and secure. 

This can also be hugely beneficial for elderly patients or those diagnosed with dementia, with the same routine and setting  providing familiarity. 

5. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Another benefit of home care services is the peace of mind it can give family members knowing someone is there for their loved one in the event of an emergency. 

Having someone with the person, to monitor them and their surroundings, can give families huge peace of mind and allow them to take time for respite for themselves. 

At ACOUP, all of our staff are qualified and trained for their positions, and are equipped to deal with any potential incidents in a calm and professional manner. 

6.COMPANIONSHIP

Loneliness can have a huge impact on an individual's mental health, with long periods of time at home alone bound to have an effect. 

However, at home care also provides one-on-one companionship, allowing people to have company and conversation even if they are not mobile or able to get out of the house. 

With their presence constant and consistent, a home carer can have an incredible impact on their mood and overall wellbeing. 

At home care also allows individuals to keep their pets if they have any, with many residential care homes or other facilities not allowing animals. 

Finally, the companionship found in at home care can also allow for more quality family time. If the caregiver is able to monitor the individual's physical and mental health on a day to day basis, then family members do not have to do this when they visit, and can instead spend time properly enjoying each other's company. 

Are you looking for home care services? At ACOUP, we are a leading domiciliary care agency offering bespoke packages tailored around you or your loved one's needs. 

Covering everything from maternity care to elderly and post surgical care, we are dedicated to ensuring you receive the best service possible. 

A full and better recovery is also common among those who receive quality home care, as they can recuperate in their own environment with staff focused solely on their needs. 

Covering all across Edinburgh, ACOUP is a one stop center for all care services in the Scottish capital. 

For a full list of our services and more information, follow the link to our website here: https://acoup.co.uk/