Live-In Care vs Nursing Home: 7 Questions to Help You Decide

Many family members feel torn between arranging live in care or a care home for a loved one. Rather than stating the pros and cons of both, which could make you feel more torn than ever, we’ve taken the time to develop some practical answers to various questions to help you make the right choice for your family.

If you’re debating the best care options for a loved one, here are seven questions to help you decide between live-in care vs nursing home.

1. What Type of Support Is Actually Needed?

First, consider what type of support your loved one realistically needs each day and night. For instance, do they need help with everyday tasks, such as personal care, medication, and meals, or will they require ongoing clinical support from a registered nurse?

Before comparing the differences between live-in care and nursing home care, arrange a professional needs assessment to learn more about their requirements. This can help you identify the right setting for your loved one’s unique needs.

According to the NHS, nursing homes provide help with personal care, and one or more qualified nurses are always on duty. Care homes also provide accommodation and personal care, such as help with washing, dressing and medication. If your family member would prefer to stay at home, live-in nursing offers one-to-one clinical care from a registered nurse in their familiar surroundings.

2. How Much One-to-One Support Would Be Helpful?

There isn’t a superior option when comparing live-in care vs nursing home care, as each offers unique benefits that can help people enjoy a better quality of life. However, they offer different levels of one-to-one support, which you should factor into your decision.

How much one-to-one support your loved one needs depends on their individual circumstances and preferences. For this reason, it’s wise to compare both models before making a choice for someone you love.

Live-in care provides one-to-one support from a dedicated carer in the comfort of your family member’s home. Your loved one receives immediate help from a consistent, familiar carer, who can assist with personal care, companionship, meals, medication, and more. Alternatively, a nursing home provides 24/7 support from rotating staff members who care for multiple residents.

As everyone is different, you must consider your loved one’s specific needs and preferences to arrange the right level of attention and support.

3. Can the Person’s Home Support Care Safely?

Now that you understand the level of support and one-to-one attention your loved one needs, turn your attention to their home’s suitability. The property must support your loved one’s daily routine and be suitable for a live-in carer.

For instance, you must assess if your loved one can:

• Safely access the home

• Climb the stairs

• Easily reach and use bathroom facilities

• Move around the home safely and independently

If they struggle with any of the above, you may need to make various home adaptations to improve their safety and independence. The property must also have a suitable private bedroom for a live-in carer before arranging live-in care.

This is a key question to ask yourself when choosing between a nursing home vs home care setting, as it tells you whether your loved one can receive care in their familiar surroundings.

4. What Would the Person Have to Give Up or Change?

When weighing up live in care vs care home options, compare the impact each option would have on your loved one’s daily life.

Moving into a care home will significantly change your family member’s lifestyle. While your loved one would benefit from fewer household responsibilities and 24/7 support, they may need to leave their spouse or partner, pets, and their local community. They would also live in a communal setting with set routines for meals, activities, and visitors. As a result, it might take time for a loved one to adjust to having less privacy, independence, and flexibility.

While live-in care allows your loved one to remain at home with their partner and pets, they will need to welcome a carer into their home. This means giving up a room and sharing their days with another person day and night.

Try to decide together what your loved one is happy to change or give up when discussing live in care or a care home. This will help you make the right choice for their health, happiness, and wellbeing.

5. What Level of Overnight and Clinical Support Is Needed?

When comparing the differences between live-in care vs nursing home, you may need to consider the level of overnight and clinical support your loved one may need.

24-hour care doesn’t mean one person remains awake and works continuously throughout the day and night, as this would harm a carer’s wellbeing and compromise your loved one’s safety. For this reason, carefully assess your loved one’s night-time needs to create an appropriate care plan or decide whether they require additional carers or live-in nursing.

For instance, your loved one may need help from a registered nurse if they have an advanced or progressive illness, complex medication schedules, or require clinical support, such as IV therapies, wound care, or ventilator management.

6. How Should You Compare the Financial Commitment?

Next, compare the cost of live in care vs a care home to determine the right financial commitment for your family.

To help you make the correct choice, we recommend comparing:

• Weekly care fees

• Home running costs

• Care for couples

• Additional nursing input

• What’s included

• Possible funding options

Visit our live-in care costs page for current pricing, which may help you make the appropriate decision for your loved one and your family.

7.   Live In Care or Care Home: What Should You Ask Before Deciding?

To help you make up your mind between live in care or a care home, we recommend asking potential providers the following questions:

• How will you assess my loved one’s care needs?

• How do you provide continuity of care?

• What night-time support is available?

• How do you handle a clinical emergency?

• What regulations apply to you (e.g., CQC in England), and what are your ratings?

• What are your fees, and what’s included and excluded?

• How will you adapt a care plan as my loved one’s needs change?

As well as comparing different providers when choosing between live in care or a care home, you must involve the person receiving care in the decision process if possible.

Would you like to explore your care options? Please contact Consultus Care and Nursing to learn more about our live-in care and nursing services.