Psychological benefits of care in your own home.

Published: 27/07/2022

At Right at Home North Somerset we are always thinking about how our work can better support our Clients and our CareGivers. There are plenty of arguments given for moving to residential care, but they miss the basic point that people prefer to remain in their own familiar surroundings if at all possible.

Talking to a colleague recently he told us that when his mother moved into residential care the thing that impacted her emotional wellbeing most was giving up her Cat. The psychological benefits of pets is well documented and being able to maintain the relationship with a Cat, or Budgie, can be an important issue for some people. Moving into an unknown setting and the inevitable loss of independence can be a long lasting source of stress for the resident. The impact of introducing a CareGiver into the home setting is far less as regular routines can be maintained. Having the emotional and mental health benefits of having a consistent stable environment supplemented by the support of a CareGiver is another positive factor. As both the Client and CareGiver engage in daily cognitive and physical activities, mental stimulation, bonding, and trust are established. That bonding is a key part of Right at Home’s work. Our preferred visits are a minimum of one hour, so time can be given to provide quality care that isn't rushed, with an ethos that is driven by positive outcomes rather than simply by need. In a care home setting the requirement to fulfil the needs of multiple residents will almost certainly lead to the bond that regular one to one support can bring being reduced. The inability to provide the level of support and care that a CareGiver would wish to can also reduce the job satisfaction and wellbeing benefits for people who work in the industry because they are motivated to care for others.

A survey carried out in 2014 by OnePoll found that 97% of those polled would prefer care at home over a stay in a hospital or a care home. With such a definite preference in mind Right at Home are committed to improving the quality of life for our Clients and enabling them to live safely and happily in their own homes. That's why we recruit and train CareGivers with a genuine passion for helping people in our local community. If you or any of your loved ones are looking for high-quality companionship, personal care, assistance with medication, meal preparation, specialist dementia care or any other complex medical conditions, please get in touch. If you would like to join our team of CareGivers you can learn more at our website.