This article was first published in July 2017 and was updated in July 2021. 

Domiciliary care, also known as home care, refers to help and support provided in your own home. We’ve put together some pros and cons of domiciliary care, so you can decide if it’s right for you or your loved one.

Our carers provide care within the comfort of your own home and offer varying levels of domiciliary care services depending on your needs. The Carers are fully trained and qualified, and specialise in providing different types and intensities of homecare on a sliding scale from companionship care, to personal assistant care, to specialist care such as looking after people suffering from dementia.  Their specialist training ensures the level of care provided is very flexible.

Firstly, let’s look at the advantages of receiving care in your own home:

Independence

One of the main advantages to domiciliary care is that it allows the person needing care to retain their independence. Even if a high level of care is required, the ability to choose when to have meals, get up in the morning, or to wash, is so important in maintaining independence.

Stability

If you choose to receive domiciliary care, you can stay in the comfort of your own home. This allows you to retain a sense of normality and continue your daily routine. Needing care can often be scary, intimidating and stressful, being in the familiarity of your own home can make things a little bit easier at a time that might be upsetting.

Flexible

The nature of domiciliary care itself means that it is totally flexible to your individual needs. It can be the perfect solution if your needs are going to change or aren’t permanent, for example, if you require post-hospital care where over a period of time you would get better and require less care, or a dementia sufferer who will over a period of time require more care.

Affordability

Due to the flexibility of domiciliary care, you only pay for the care you need, when you need it. No matter which domiciliary care company you chose, there should be a package to suit your needs. 

One-on-One

Unlike in care homes, our care clients are cared for on a completely personalised, individual basis. Carers usually come alone or as a pair (if your needs require) and become familiar, friendly faces in your everyday life. Your care can be completely tailored to you and you can receive help and support in basically any aspect of your life, from getting out of bed to going shopping.

With all of the above in mind, here are the disadvantages to consider:

Unsuitable facilities

One possible disadvantage to domiciliary care is that you’re limited to the facilities that already exist in the home. This can mean having to make appropriate home modifications such as hand rails, ramps, shower seats or, more majorly, stair-lifts or widening door ways.

Sharing your personal space

Although the major advantage of domiciliary care is that you can stay in your home, it does mean that you need to be open to and comfortable with allowing a carer into your home. You may find it difficult to have someone new in your home sharing your personal space. Having said this, it is possible that you may only feel this way initially and become used to seeing your carers come and go regularly.

We’re ready to talk. Ready to Listen. Please get in touch if you want to find out more about our services and how we can help you. Telephone Julie on 028 9026 5515.

If, on the other hand, you’re interested in learning more about becoming a domiciliary care assistant, we have several opportunities available for experienced, caring and compassionate care workers across Ireland and the UK. Find out more about these opportunities here.