Elderly Care in the UK

Taking care of the elderly can be extremely exhausing physically, mentally and emotionally especially if the elderly person has special needs like dementia. Sometimes you reach a stage where you think the elderly person will be better being cared for by care specialists. I hope this is an option we don’t have to take because there are not many good care home options here. Not like in the UK.

I read that apart from the normal nursing homes, in the UK, they also have other interesting options like residential care for example. A positive option for many people, residential care varies from small family-style homes to homes with 5-star hotel standards. There are even residential care homes that specialises in caring for people with dementia. The difference between a nursing home and a residential care home is the fact that nursing homes provide 24 hour medical care for those who are frail, bedridden or ill.

Another option is care at home. Under this option the elderly person can choose to stay in their present homes or move to a more suitable home like housing with care or a sheltered or retirement housing. The elderly person can seek a local authority assessment and if eligible could receive a range of home care services through a home care agency. These services provide support in their own home for tasks like cleaning, shopping or help with bathing and personal hygiene, getting in and out of bed and cooking etc. 

In the UK, home care services is provided by Local authority social services departments, private as well as voluntary organisations giving the elderly person a good selection of home care choices.