When we get older, it is only natural that we need some extra care when it comes to tasks like cooking meals, getting dressed, and taking our medication. When this time comes, there tend to be two options; live-in care or care homes. If you take a look online, you will see that there are plenty of different stories and research that support live-in care being the better option of the two. With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the different statistics from our Better At Home Report that make worrying reading when it comes to care institutions.

97 per cent of people do not want to move into institutional care if they find that they cannot cope anymore

There is only one place to begin, and this is with the fact that a massive 97 per cent of people have stated they do not want to be moved into institutional care if they cannot cope any longer and require personal care or dementia care. The mere fact that people do not want the last years of their lives to be like this is reason alone why you should not make a care institution your first choice.

When considering types of care service, you may think that residential care is the only option, but we can assure you that this is not the case. There are plenty of other options, and live-in home care is a prime example of this for personal care, domiciliary care and also various types of specialist care service. With professional care at home, the person in question is able to retain their independence and stay in the home that they know and love. At the same time, they will get all of the care and assistance they require at this point in their lives, including respite care, dementia care and palliative care. It’s a simple matter of contacting a live-in carer agency who can match you with the right professional carer.

Two million people have to put their dog or cat to sleep when moving into care

This is one of the surprising and overlooked effects of leaving your own home. Many people have cats or dogs, which provide them with a great source of friendship and comfort. Heartbreakingly, though, two million people who have moved into care have had to put their cat or dog to sleep as a consequence because they are not allowed to move pets in.

Needless to say, this is devastating, which can break anyone’s heart. It is also worth considering the benefits that are associated with owning a pet as an older person. Pets can help people to deal with pain while also providing them with a great source of friendship and helping them to combat loneliness. Pets give people a sense of purpose and they also provide them with discipline and routine, which is important for their mental health and happiness. If that was not enough, pets also help seniors to be more social. And live-in care providers will always be happy to find a carer who loves animals just as much as you do.

Not doing anything enjoyable or of value with their time

Aside from the statistics that we have mentioned so far, another surprising statistic is that 5 per cent of those in care and 11 per cent of those in nursing homes feel that they do not do anything that they value or enjoy with their time.

On the flip side, we have found that 97 per cent of people with a live-in carer feel like they do things that they enjoy and value, even though they may be frail, ill, or reaching the end of their lives. Talk to any reputable agency and you will find they emphasise the importance of enjoying life at all of it’s stages.

When we get to the end of our lives, it is important to maximize this time as much as possible. However, it can be difficult to do so when you are not as active or mobile as you used to be and need help with personal care or specialist help such as dementia care. Nevertheless, this does not mean that we should simply give up – you can still get enjoyment from your life.

The trouble is that it can be very difficult to do things that you love and enjoy if you are constrained to the walls of a residential home. This is why live-in care makes much more sense.

39 per cent of people don’t go outside the home

Last but not least, another worrying statistic associated with care institutions is that almost 4 in 10 people never leave the home even when they are physically able to. This means that they stop seeing all of the beauty in the world around them.

Leaving the house is important, though, and a study published in Medical News Today revealed that leaving the house every day could help you live longer. You are naturally going to be much more inclined to go outdoors and live your life if you are based in your own home with a professional care service, rather than being in a  care home.

The study, which included 3,375 adults, revealed that staying indoors is linked to a greater risk of death. Engaging with the outside world is critical but this is something we are seeing happening less and less for those in institutionalised care, as there is no one motivating residents to go outdoors. On the other hand as any live-in care company will tell you, their carers will always provide every encouragement and support to venture out into the fresh air.

Final thoughts…

Hopefully, after reading this, you’ll have an insight into some of the worrying statistics that you need to take note of when it comes to residential or nursing care. If you are currently assessing the options that are available for you or your loved one, it certainly makes a lot of sense to leverage a reputable agency if possible to arrange a live-in care plan. By doing this, you will be able to make sure that your loved one receives the attention and assistance they require from the comfort of their own home, helping them to retain their independence and happiness – and even, in some cases, ensuring they have the best chance of enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

You can find out more about home care costs and funding care here.

Or read some of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.

According to the Better At Home Report, six people over the age of 65-years-old suffer a fall. This is a worrying statistic, to say the least. Before you can even begin to think about the different steps that can be taken to try and prevent such falls, it is important to get to the bottom of the causes and risk factors associated with falls in the older population. As a not-for-profit organisation comprising 20+ live-in care agencies, our research helps us explain in more detail how and why falls happen.

What causes falls?

There are a number of different things that can cause a fall. Your reflexes, hearing, and eyesight might not be as sharp as they were years ago. There are a number of different things that can impact your balance, for example, issues with your blood vessels, feet, nerves, or thyroid, as well as heart disease and diabetes. Some medicines can also make you more likely to fall, as they can cause you to feel sleepy or dizzy. Other causes include safety hazards in the community environment.

Scientists have also connected a number of different personal risk factors to falling, including problems with gait and balance, as well as muscle weaknesses. If your blood pressure drops excessively when you stand up after you have been sitting or lying down, this could also result in a fall. This is actually known as postural hypotension.

Aside from this, your risk of falling will also increase if you have any sort of foot problems, for example, any sort of issues with your feet that cause pain or shoes that are not suitable.

As we get older, confusion can also result in falls. For instance, if you wake up in an environment that is not familiar, you may feel like you are unsure of where you are. If you feel like you are confused, it is best for you to wait until someone comes to help you or your mind clears before getting up and trying to walk around. A live-in carer agency will provide 24/7 full time carers who live in your house with you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week so there is always someone nearby to help and to provide that extra peace of mind. Alternatively they can provide fully-managed care support to suit your specific needs including companionship care, domiciliary care and overnight care. Full time palliative care is also available from some agencies.

It is also worth pointing out that there are a number of different medications that can increase a person’s chance of falling, and we often find that people end up needing more medication as they get older. Medications can end up causing a number of different side effects, such as confusion. The more medications you take, the higher your chances are of falling. Of course, there are some medications that are more likely to make you feel dizzy when compared with others.

Final words on the different risk factors and causes associated with falling

Hopefully we’ve now identified some of the different reasons why elderly people are inclined to fall. Of course, these statistics are worrying and they are not something we should simply accept, as falls can cause serious injury and even be fatal from time to time. This is why we need to put provisions in place to make sure that the risk factors associated with falls are minimised as much as possible. Home care services provide professional carers in your own home to help so why not talk to a Care Quality Commission CQC approved live-in care agency today to find out more.

As we get older, we need to be more mindful of the risks that can impact our health. There is no denying that the risk of a fall increases considerably as we age, and this is why a lot of people end up suffering from hip fractures. However, there are different ways that you can reduce the threat of a hip fracture, and one of the best solutions is to choose home care services or live-in care services over a residential care home. As per the Better At Home Report, there are half as many hip fractures amongst people with live-in care services.

Hip fractures Explained

A hip fracture is a break or crack in the femur, which is the top of the thigh bone that is close to the hip joint. They are typically caused by an injury or a fall to the side of the hip, yet could occasionally be caused by a medical condition, for example, cancer that causes the hip bone to weaken. Falls are exceptionally common, especially amongst people who are aged 80-years-old or above, and who may have balance and mobility issues, as well as reduced vision. Hip fractures are also more common amongst females who are more likely to get osteoporosis, which is a condition that makes bones fragile and weak.

What are the signs of a hip fracture?

There are a number of different signs that someone may have fractured their hip after a fall, including the following:

• Your injured leg turns inward
• Your injured leg appears shorter than your other leg
• Swelling and bruising around your hip
• Not being able to put weight on your leg or stand on your leg
• Not being able to rotate, move, or lift your leg
• Pain

What can be done to prevent a hip fracture?

There are a number of different steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of a hip fracture. You can reduce your risk of falling by doing exercises to improve your balance, as well as assessing your property for hazards and making it safer, for example, rectifying any areas of loose carpeting. This is something that your live-in carer agency will be able to help you with to make sure that your home is as safe as possible. In addition to this, another way that you can lower your risk of falling is by using a walking stick or any other type of walking aid.

Final words on how a live-in carer can reduce the risk of a hip fracture

As you can see, there are many different benefits that are associated with live-in care, and one of the clear benefits is that you can lower the risk of a hip fracture. A lot of people tend to consider the social and independence benefits that are associated with having a live-in carer. However, they do not realise that with this sort of care palliative support and other specialist help such as stroke care are available. It can also offer a number of health advantages as well.

Find out more about the cost of live in care here

Or read some of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.

Did you know that 98 per cent of people with a live-in carer say that the support and care they receive enables them to do things that they enjoy and value, despite being frail, ill, or close to the end of their life? Unfortunately, when it comes to care homes (as these these statistics show), five per cent of those in residential care and 11 per cent of those in nursing homes say they do not do anything they enjoy or value with their time anymore.

This highlights one of the main reasons why having a live-in carer is so popular, because doing things you enjoy with your time is critical, irrespective of how old you are. With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the different reasons why seniors need to have hobbies.

Hobbies support the mind

The mind never stops working, and this is one of the main reasons why seniors need to have hobbies. If you stop doing things you love, this can cause depression. Depression can then impact your physical health, appetite, sleep, and energy levels. However, depression does not need to be an inevitable part of getting older. Instead, by keeping up your hobbies and doing the things that you love, this can help you to prevent feelings of depression and to make sure that your mind stays active.

Help combat feelings of loneliness

Aside from supporting your mind, hobbies are also beneficial because they help you to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. This is where live-in care comes in beneficial. You get to maintain the independence of living in your own home yet you get the companionship you need to continue doing the hobbies that you enjoy.

Hobbies help you care for your body

As you get older, you still need to be physically active. Yes, you may not be able to go on a long-distance run anymore. However, you still need to exercise. There are plenty of different hobbies that can be an excellent source of physical exercise. Playing different types of games like tennis or golf can help to support your joints and muscles.

Keep your mood levels up

It can be easy to fall into a slump of depression no matter your age. However, when we get older, this slump can be easier to fall into and more difficult to get out of, especially if you are stuck at home all of the time and you do not enjoy the things you love. This is why it is important to keep doing your hobbies so you can keep your mood levels up.

As you can see, there are a lot of different benefits that are associated with having hobbies as an older person. This highlights why it makes sense to talk to a Care Quality Commission approved live-in care provider offering full time home care 7 days a week, so that you can continue doing the hobbies that you love and feel that passion for life that makes it worth living. Home care works for people requiring simple personal help right through to complex needs and end-of-life support. With this sort of home care stroke support and other specialist help such as dementia care and fully managed respite care are also available.

Read some of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.