As those we care for age or contend with health conditions, caring for them in highly personalized and compassionate ways becomes vastly more important. For some, the thought of moving into a care facility can be clinical or even traumatic. But what if we didn’t have to uproot people from their familiar home, and they could have quality care to support them – in home?

The traditional aged care and disability supports are evolving in order to meet the demands placed on individuals, families and the care systems. One of the newest and most empowering emergence of support systems, includes full-time in-home support. This option brings the support to the individual, offering personalized support, safety and companionship right to the individual, and is also accustomed to their need for independence.

The following blog will look at how the availability of 24/7 home-based support is reshaping how we view care, how it supports dignity and independence, while providing peace of mind.

The Emotional Weight of Remaining at Home

As we all appreciate, for many people, a home is not just a building – it is a safe place, it is a sense of self. The significance of memories, rituals and routines can hold therapeutic value as well. Staying in a familiar space can help mentally and emotionally especially for individuals with cognitive deficits, people who are semi-mobile or that rely on some level of anxiety control.

Remaining at home allows for:

• Consistent daily habits that help create certainty and decrease stress.
• Independence in many small choices (which meals to eat, how to set up their room, etc.)
• An emotional tie to special personal belongings, pets and their community.

All of these factors tend to result in better health and life quality than someone would experience in an institution.

What Full-Time In-Home Support Looks Like

Around-the-clock (24/7) in-home support is about much more than needs for medical care. It is holistic support in every aspect of life – from bathing, to medication support, emotional companionship, and support of a leisure activity, each person or family will have a care plan individualized to their needs and preferences.

Some common services provided by caregivers include:

• Personal care (bathing, toileting, grooming)
• Meal preparation and monitoring nutrition
• Mobility support and fall prevention
• Medication reminders and management
• Domestic chores and laundry
• Transportation to appointments and social events
• Companionship and support for socialization and cognitive stimulation

The caregiver may live full-time in the residence or have scheduled shifts to account for individual service needs, but there is always someone there to assist, comfort, and respond to any situation.

Who Benefits From This Care Model? 

Live-in or continuous care arrangements can be life-changing for a diverse group of people, including:

• Seniors who want to age in place
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals recovering from surgery or a hospital stay
• Individuals who have complex medical conditions
• Individuals with cognitive impairment such as dementia

It is not just about healthcare, it is about lifestyle. These services allow each person to continue to live their life on their own terms, with support that is catered to each individual and scales along with their needs.

Benefits Over Traditional Residential Care

Although care facilities are an important part of the healthcare system, having care provided in home is clearly superior to facilities in a number of ways:

1. Consistency and Customisation of Care

In-home care means having consistent carers, who learn and understand the routines, preferences and personality of the person being cared for. There is no one size fits all in terms of care.

2. Greater Control and Flexibility

Clients decide what they eat, how their space is decorated and how they will manage their day – liberties not often afforded in residential care.

3. Less Risk Exposure to Infectious Diseases

A particular concern in the post covid era, remaining at home means less exposure to infection as compared to communal living spaces.

4. More Family Involvement

Family Members can come and visit or stay, without the usual restrictions or scheduling issues associated with facilities.

5. Greater Cost Transparency and Efficiency

Families will typically find that many live-in care providers provide visible break downs for families to understand pricing and plan for bills without worrying about hidden charges.

Building the Most Suitable Support System

Choosing specialist care providers that places safety, comfort and compatibility first is important. Although many organisations offer this service, few truly provide a personal service with a high level of professional care.

When considering the options, pay attention to:

• Staff experience and training
• Accreditation and regulatory standards compliance
• Communication and family involvement procedures
• Emergency protocols and response times
• Reviews and testimonials from families who’ve used the providers service
• Whether you can access services through funding modalities like the NDIS or private health plans

Some families decide to pay for a service for the like of respite, live-in care or ongoing support, and then mix this paid with informal support from family members or community-based volunteers, thus creating a hybrid service model that provides the required 24/7 care support.

The Contribution of Technology towards 24/7 In-Home Support

Technology has quickly become an essential enabler of safe and effective at-home support. From digital reminders for medication, emergency alerts, running telehealth consultations, and technology supports help fill in the gaps between at-home support and oversight of clinical care.

Examples comprise:

• Wearable health monitors for tracking vitals
• Smart sensors for tracking falls or unusual movement
• Voice Activated Assistance devices
• Virtual groups for socialisation or therapy session (eg: support groups)
• Remote monitoring apps for family

These technologies provide families and caregivers with information – in real time – to provide informed and timely care without compromising individualism.

A Word About Carer Wellbeing

Caring for someone 24/7 is substantial work, which is why providing live in home care services often match staff in rotating blocks or implement scheduled breaks to support career wellbeing and alleviate burnout. Good care begins with a cared for worker. Common ways agencies support carer wellbeing include:

• Ongoing training and development
• Mental health supports for carers
• Supervision and check-ins by senior staff
• Ensuring that workers are a good personality match for clients

These initiatives promote continuity and trust in the relationship between the carer, and the person receiving support.

Final Reflections: Comfort, Care, and Choice

As our understanding of aging, disability, and wellness develop, so does the demand for services that reflect personhood. Live-in personal support offers an attractive alternative for people who seek to have high quality support while not compromising on their independence, comfort, or their personhood.

Not all circumstances will require live-in care, nonetheless, simply knowing it is a possibility, can give parents and family members peace of mind while navigating complicated support needs for loved ones. With the right team, the home can be the safest, happiest place for someone to live.