Knowing when is the best time to seek residential care for a loved one is a question families usually dread. The realisation that a loved one is no longer able to stay safely in their own home and now needs full time support is hard to come to terms with.
Fear of change is a powerful emotion but specialist residential care can provide enormous advantages for older people.
Residential care can significantly improve life for both the resident and other family members who will be freed from the worry and relentless nature of providing full time care. So let’s consider some of the benefits life in a care home can bring….
Removing loneliness and isolation
High quality residential care that has been designed with the needs of older people in mind can provide a far more stimulating environment than that of an individual’s own home, particularly if poor health or reduced mobility has restricted their ability to get out and about.
Companionship, friendship and a sense of community are all aspects of life that care homes work hard to promote and can give older people renewed purpose and zest for life.
Greater Independence with specialist support
Well designed spaces and accessibility aids built in can make life easier, enabling residents to join in activities and pastimes more easily. Adaptations such as lifts, handrails, adapted bathrooms, wheelchair friendly gardens etc can all aid recovery if someone is recovering from illness or an injury, and can promote confidence and independence rather than taking it away.
Stimulating activities and group therapies
Well run care homes pride themselves on providing a range of activities, therapies and events that people living in their own homes would be unlikely to be able to access. These help their residents stay active, engaged, and connected to the outside world and are important in helping older people maintain a sense of purpose and ward off depression.
Improved quality of life for family carers
Access to 24 hour care removes the strain and worry that the demands of physical care puts on family members. Exhaustion and depression are common among full time family carers and the relentless nature of care means that sharing enjoyable time together can be lost among the constant demands that physical care brings.
Knowing that your love one is receiving excellent care and support both physically and mentally means that time spent together can once again be enjoyed, creating special moments to treasure.
Here at Longmead Court, Braintree our skilled and experienced staff are dedicated to providing specialist nursing care to improve the lives of both our residents and their families. Sense of community is particularly important to us, and we pride ourselves on our welcoming atmosphere and home from home feel.
Give us a ring on 01376 313341 for a confidential chat to find out more about our facilities and to see how we could help you.
