Understanding Different Types of Care

When you or someone you love is at the beginning of needing assistance to remain independent it can be scary and nerve wrecking and, it doesn't help that there are many different types of care available. Each type serves a specific purpose and can be tailored to the person’s health, preferences, and living situation. Understanding these options can empower people and families to make informed choices about the support that best suits their needs.

Domiciliary Care (Home Care):

Home care, also called domiciliary care, involves trained carers visiting someone in their own home to provide support with daily living. This is often preferred because it allows people to maintain their independence and comfort in familiar surroundings.

Common services include:

• Personal care: Assistance with washing, dressing, toileting, and grooming.
• Medication support: Helping with reminders or administering prescribed medicines.
• Meal preparation: Cooking meals or assisting with eating and drinking.
• Household tasks: Light cleaning, laundry, shopping, and other chores.
• Mobility assistance: Supporting safe movement around the home or outdoors.
   

Visits can range from a brief 15-30 minutes to several hours, and can include 1-2 carers at a time depending on the individual’s needs.

Companionship Care:

Companionship care focuses on the social and emotional needs of individuals, particularly those who may be isolated or lonely. Unlike personal care, it does not involve intimate physical assistance but provides valuable interaction and engagement.

Such activities of Companionship Care could include:

• Engaging in conversations and active listening.
• Sharing hobbies like puzzles, reading, or crafts.
• Accompanying individuals on walks, outings, or appointments.
• Helping with phone calls, letters, or using technology.
• Providing encouragement and emotional support.
   

Companionship care is often used alongside personal care services or independently to improve mental wellbeing and reduce feelings of isolation.

Personal Care:

Personal care refers specifically to assistance with tasks that relate to personal hygiene and bodily functions, which may be difficult for some people due to age, illness, or disability.

Services commonly include:

• Bathing and showering assistance, including safety support.
• Dressing and undressing, respecting personal preferences.
• Oral hygiene support.
• Continence care, including managing incontinence products.
• Assistance with eating and drinking if needed.
   

Personal care may be provided in a person’s own home, in supported housing, or in residential care settings. Personal Care is typically heavily involved in all types of care.

Overnight Care:

Some people require support throughout the night due to medical conditions, risk of falls, or disrupted sleep patterns. Overnight care helps ensure safety and wellbeing during these hours.

Types of overnight care you may come across:

• Sleeping night care: A carer stays overnight in the home, typically sleeping but ready to assist if needed.
• Waking night care: A carer remains awake all night to provide ongoing support, monitoring, or assistance.
   

This care is essential for people who may experience seizures, breathing difficulties, or require medication during the night. Additionally, overnight care may be a welcoming respite for family carers allowing them to get the sleep and rest that they need.

Live-In Care:

Live-in care provides continuous support by having a professional carer live in the client’s home. This option allows individuals to receive personal care, companionship, and practical help while remaining in familiar surroundings.

Live-in care typically involves:

• 24-hour availability of a dedicated carer.
• Assistance with personal care, mobility, meals, and medication.
• Support with household tasks and errands.
• Emotional and social support to reduce loneliness.
• Assistances with admin responsibilities such as making payments and setting up accounts
   

Live-in care is often chosen as an alternative to residential care, particularly for people who prefer the comfort and privacy of their own home but need extensive support.

Residential Care:

Residential care homes provide accommodation alongside care and support for individuals who are unable to live independently. Care staff are on-site 24 hours a day to assist with personal care, health needs, and daily living.

Types of residential care include:

• Standard residential care: Support with daily tasks such as personal care, meals, and social activities.
• Nursing care homes: Provide 24-hour nursing care for individuals with more complex medical needs.
• Specialist dementia care homes: Designed for people living with dementia, offering tailored environments and trained staff.
   

Residents usually have their own room and share communal areas. Meals, housekeeping, and social activities are included in the service. Think of it as a home away from home with live in care available.

Respite Care:

Respite care provides short-term breaks for unpaid family carers. It can help prevent carer burnout by giving temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities.

Respite care may be delivered:

• At home, with visiting carers stepping in.
• In residential or nursing care homes.
• At day centres providing activities and social engagement.
   

Respite can last from a few hours to several weeks and is also used during hospital discharges or recovery periods.

Supported Living:

Supported living arrangements help individuals, often with disabilities or learning difficulties, live independently in their own homes or shared accommodation, while receiving flexible support.

The support you may see within this sector of care may include:

• Assistance with managing finances, bills, and tenancy.
• Help with personal care and household chores.
• Support with attending work, education, or social activities.
• Encouragement to build life skills and confidence.
   

Supported living promotes autonomy by separating housing from care services, allowing people to maintain control over their living environment.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care:

Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for people with serious, life-limiting illnesses. The care is holistic, addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs. It can be very challenging for all individuals involved. 

Key elements include:

• Pain and symptom management.
• Psychological and emotional support.
• Assistance with decision-making and care planning.
• Support for families and carers.
   

Palliative care can be provided at home, in hospices, hospitals, or care homes, and aims to ensure comfort and dignity through the end-of-life journey.