When planning for recovery after surgery, it can be difficult to know who or where to turn for help. Recovery can take a lot out of us, and if you don’t have sufficient support from friends and family, you might need to look at your professional care options to keep post-operative recovery as smooth as possible.
When choosing a care plan, there are more options available than short-term residential care. Live-in care is becoming increasingly popular for after-hospital support. Both options have pros and cons, and we’ll explore both to find your ideal option today.
What is Live-in Care?
24-hour live-in care is support offered by a full-time carer who stays in your home for the duration of time they’re needed. After surgery, live-in care could be needed for days, weeks or even months. Live-in carers are around to provide personalised assistance 24/7, making sure your specific needs are always met.
Live-in care is so popular because it allows you to stay comfortable and independent in your own home rather than temporarily moving somewhere else. One-on-one carers give you as much attention as you need, covering a wide range of services depending on your unique requirements.
What is Residential Care?
Residential care is offered in a residential setting, where several clients live under the same roof to receive expert care as soon as they need it. Residential care homes cater to those who need short-term care, such as post-surgery rehabilitation, or long-term care.
Care homes are staffed with a team of professional carers, so there’s always someone on hand day and night should you need assistance. Certain care homes also offer nursing facilities, which can be beneficial after surgery for services such as wound care.
Key Differences Between Live-in and Residential Care
Choosing between live-in and residential care is much easier when you know the main differences between them.
Your Living Environment
Live-in care offers the obvious advantage of remaining in the comfort of your own home while receiving professional care. Many people prefer this after being discharged from hospital, especially when they’ve spent a few days or weeks on a ward recovering from surgery. Residential care is offered in a care home setting, so you’ll have to move into temporary accommodation should you choose this service.
Level of Independence
Many people find that live-in care offers a better level of independence post-surgery. You’ll remain in familiar surroundings with all your belongings, hobbies and routines, with a carer around to support you as and when it’s needed. Live-in carers are also able to offer you more attention and time to foster independence, rather than rushing to do things for you.
Residential care offers less independence, as care homes have their own routines and activities to follow. This might include pre-set timings for meals, personal care and support, which might leave you feeling more dependent on your carers.
Types of Care Available
Live-in care is suitable for many health conditions, including recovery after an operation. However, highly complex medical needs might fare better with residential nursing care instead, where you’ll have continuous access to advanced medical staff should you have any concerns or worries about your recovery and wound care.
Social Interaction
Live-in care can be quite isolating as you’ll be dependent on your family and friends’ schedules. You might not be able to visit loved ones as easily while recovering, and your carer might be the only person you talk to some days. Residential care is a much more social environment, so you can socialise with other residents and participate in group activities to prevent feeling isolated throughout recovery.
Comfort and Familiarity
While being cared for at home, you get to stay in familiar surroundings with your pets, belongings and home comforts. You’ll also be around your neighbours and close-living loved ones, making it easier for them to visit you.
Rehabilitating in a residential home requires you to move somewhere else for a short while. This can be unsettling and stressful, but also reassuring if you need 24/7 supervision as you recover.
Cost
Live-in care is more cost-effective when you consider how much one-on-one support you’ll get from your designated carer. This type of care may also be cheaper, as you don’t have to worry about the cost of renting another room in a care home. Residential care can be more expensive, but some people find it worth the added cost to have the reassurance of specialist nurses on hand should they need support.
Personalisation of Care
Live-in carers can tailor one-on-one care to focus solely on you, your preferences and symptoms. This gives you a more personalised care plan to ensure your recovery period is as quick and efficient as possible. You can also work with your carer to personalise your care plan depending on how you’re feeling each day, fostering independence as you start feeling better and stronger.
Residential carers are often responsible for multiple clients, so their attention is shared. However, this doesn’t mean that care isn’t as good or professional—it simply may be less personalised.
Visiting Opportunities
When recovering at home, your loved ones can visit as often as you like without any routine or time restrictions. This makes it easier for friends and family members to visit around their schedule, and only when you’re feeling up to it.
Most care homes offer set visiting hours to prevent frequent interruptions from unsettling residents’ schedules. This might be beneficial in the initial stages of recovery when people are still tired, lethargic and in pain. However, this gives you less freedom to see family and friends.
Which Type of Care Is Right for You?
Choosing between live-in care all depends on your unique situation and preferences. Most people require extra support after an operation, but the type of care you need determines whether you can stay at home comfortably as you recover.
When to Choose Live-in Care
Live-in care is a good choice for people who:
- Want to recover at home, surrounded by their familiar things and home comforts
- Require personalised one-to-one care and assistance with mobility, tasks like cooking and cleaning, and daily monitoring
- Feel more relaxed at home, as this can promote a quicker recovery
- Have pets at home who they’d like to stay close to
- Need temporary, short-term support to foster independence and streamline recovery
- Can add aids and equipment to their home to make recovery easier
When to Choose Residential Care
If live-in care isn’t the best option, residential care suits many people who:
- Require specialist nursing support after a major surgery to monitor for common complications
- Don’t have a safe or practical home environment for recovery
- Want the reassurance of a healthcare team available 24/7
- Need on-site rehabilitation services, like physiotherapy or occupational therapy
- Prefer a structured routine and want things like cooking and cleaning done for them while they recover
- Live alone without a strong support system close by
Questions to Ask Yourself When Planning Your Recovery
Choosing the best care plan is a big decision, so if you still need help choosing the right option, ask yourself the following questions to give yourself a clearer view of your situation post-op:
- Where will I feel safe and comfortable recovering? At home or in a care facility?
- How complex is my operation and recovery likely to be?
- Is my home suitable for post-surgery care? Will I be able to move around safely?
- What do I value more: the comfort of home or reassurance of medical supervision?
- Will I need short-term support to regain independence or longer-term care?
How Country Cousins Can Help
At Country Cousins, we understand how difficult it can be to recover from an operation away from home. Our postoperative care provides daily monitoring and assistance throughout this time, all from the comfort of your own home. We’ll match you with one of our fully-trained, compassionate carers who will focus on maintaining independence and dignity as you make a full recovery.
Our postoperative care includes:
- Daily monitoring and mobility assistance
- Transport to and from appointments
- Assistance with daily tasks like showering and oral hygiene
- Help with cooking and rehabilitation exercises
- Pet care and light housework
- Companionship and emotional support
We aim to speed up recovery by encouraging you to get back on your feet as soon as possible, keeping routines in place and eliminating the stress of having to move to temporary accommodation. Country Cousins offers both short- and long-term care solutions, depending on your needs and goals moving forward.
Talk to Our Team Today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959—all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
Link to ‘home aids and equipment to support frailty’ when live on website
