Home Care or Care Home: How to Choose What's Best for Your Loved One
When your loved one is facing their hardest days, it’s about more than care. It’s about where they can live with dignity, comfort, and security.

Your loved one has had a fall. They’re sore, shaken, and unsteady on their feet. They lives alone, and you can’t be there all the time. You want them safe – but you also want them happy.
 

Now you’re facing a decision many UK families know too well:
Do you arrange care at home or move her into a care home?

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This guide breaks down both options, their pros and cons, costs, and what to consider – so you can make the right choice for her, your family, and your peace of mind.
 

What Is Home Care?

Home care allows your loved one to stay in their own home with support from trained carers.
 

It suits people who:
✔ Want to stay independent in familiar surroundings
✔ Prefer to remain close to family, friends, and pets
✔ Don’t want to move into a residential setting
 

Types of Home Care

• Visiting Care – Carers visit for a few hours a day or week to help with daily tasks.

• Live-in Care – A full-time carer lives in the home, offering round-the-clock support.

• 24-hour Care – A team of carers work in shifts to provide constant supervision, ideal for advanced needs.
   

Services May Include:

• Personal care (washing, dressing, toileting)

• Help with medication, meals, cleaning, shopping

• Health support (wound care, injections, monitoring conditions)

• Companionship and social activities
   

Who Provides It?

Care assistants, live-in carers, district nurses, or therapists – arranged via:
 

1. Private agencies (fast, flexible, self-funded by direct payments or private means also can be funded by Local authority)

2. Local authority support (subject to means-testing and assessments)

3. NHS Continuing Healthcare (for complex medical needs, fully funded)
    

What Is a Care Home?

A care home provides accommodation and 24/7 support in a safe, communal setting. It’s often the best choice when someone can no longer manage at home, even with help.

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There are two main types:

• Residential Homes – Help with personal care, meals, and social activities. Best for those needing daily support and companionship.

• Nursing Homes – Provide all the above plus medical care from qualified nurses, ideal for complex health needs or advanced conditions.
   

How to Decide?
 

Consider:
✅ Your mum’s safety and independence
✅ Her social and emotional needs
✅ The level of medical care required
✅ Costs and available funding
 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice depends on her needs today and how they might change in the future.
 

By understanding the options, you can make a clear, confident decision that gives your mum the comfort she deserves.
 

Call us now or drop us an email at enquiries@baxterlifecareltd.co.uk