What is Domiciliary Care & What Are the Benefits?
We don’t remember that day we learned to crawl and the whole new, amazing world it opened. We were explorers all, delving into uncharted territories of living rooms and bedrooms and on a lucky day, the treasures of an unlatched cabinet.
This is also the time we learned the meaning of independence and we cherished it every day after. Indeed, self-reliance is a deeply rooted life element and for most of us, the only way we know. However, the twilight of our lives brings new challenges, from health issues to mental hurdles to changing living conditions. When it comes to the latter, having to leave your home—perhaps the one you’ve known all your life—is unpleasant if not downright unacceptable.
But you might not have a choice or it might be the best decision and in those cases, domiciliary care is a popular and widely successful option for seniors wishing to remain at home but could use a hand with some of life’s daily living requirements.
Consider that more than 65 million Americans juggle daily demands of work, home, and children as well as caring for a friend or family member who may be disabled, ill, or aging. It can be overwhelming to manage busy families and jobs, on top of emotional decisions that must be made when caring for a loved one.
Parents and adult children may live thousands of miles away from one another and the demands and pressure of providing care often results in caregiver burnout—a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Domiciliary care defined
For those unfamiliar with the term, domiciliary care is a targeted in-home care provided to elderly people by a qualified home care worker. This allows seniors to retain their independence while remaining in their homes; a tremendous advantage and one coveted by many people in their twilight years. Instead of moving to a residential care facility, they can enjoy many of the same benefits in comfortable surroundings. Some of the daily living chores attended to by a healthcare worker include:
- Medication management
- Personal care
- Dietary needs and meal preparation
- Common household chores
- Transportation or completion of errands including doctor visits and grocery trips
- Provide general advice on a variety of issues
- Valuable companionship
Overall scope of care will largely depend on the needs of the senior; some people only need 30 minutes a day while others require 24-hour care.
Who needs domiciliary care?
At first glance, it might seem that “dom care” is only for the elderly but it can also benefit children, young people, and adults with specific support needs. Here are some common indicators of the need for domiciliary care:
- Need for help around the house
- Help getting in or out of bed
- Assistance with daily tasks such as laundry, cooking, and cleaning
- Transport to medical appointments
- Physical therapy assistance
Help in any of these areas can make a tremendous difference in the lives of seniors and their families, including invaluable peace of mind knowing attentive and professional care is provided.
Benefits of domiciliary care
While the most attractive benefit of dom care is the ability to live at home and stay active in your community, other incentives also play a part.
Reduced stress
The physical aspect of uprooting and moving to a retirement home or residential care facility can be and often is very stressful. Acclimating to a new environment of “neighbors” and social surroundings is difficult, especially considering many seniors don’t want to be there in the first place. Dom care allows a caregiver to assimilate into a senior’s lifestyle.
Personal care goes a long way
Personalized care from a dedicated professional is a big deal. When a care worker is focused only on you and your needs, instead of an entire wing of a facility, it breeds trust and often builds lasting friendships that are so important in life’s later years.
Care tailored to you
Some people might need five minutes of attention a day or help with meals. Others need specialized care recovering from surgery. Whatever the case, dom care tailors service exactly to an individual’s needs as opposed to generic service that sometimes does more harm than good.
Go easy on the family
Aging is a difficult life chapter to begin with and our families often endure similar challenges while in primary caregiving roles. Our children have busy lives and while they love their parents, family members still need time to themselves. If a family caregiver cannot offer care on a particular day, it can disrupt medication or a medical visit. Dom care ensures help is always on hand and frees up family members to manage their needs as well.
Consider domiciliary care for your loved one; even a laugh and good conversation can brighten a day.
If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.
Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater San Diego, Family Matter In-Home Care has offices throughout California including: Campbell, CA, Roseville, CA, San Marcos, CA, and San Mateo, CA.
