Moving into a care home is often perceived as a loss of freedom, but that is simply not the case. While your setting may change, the ability to make choices, pursue interests and live with dignity remains.
This article will explore how you can maintain a sense of independence in care homes with the help of personalised care services, allowing you to continue thriving in a supportive environment.
What is Personalised Care Service?
Personalised care services are tailored support systems that revolve around your unique needs, preferences and short and long-term goals while living in a care home. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all program, personalised care respects your choices and ensures that your required care is aligned with your lifestyle.
While it can give you free will, it also takes into account your medical, emotional and social needs, encouraging you to be an active participant while living in the care home. Ultimately, this approach can build trust and give you a sense of ownership over your life and well-being.
How Can It Help You Live as Independently as You Like?
Choice and Control
Modern care homes increasingly encourage personal choice, allowing you to make decisions about your daily routine, meals, exercise, activities and care preferences. Choosing when to wake up and deciding how you would like to spend your day, you can retain control over your life. Staff at care homes are trained to support individual preferences, promoting dignity and self-respect.
This person-centred approach ensures that residents feel heard and valued, rather than managed. Maintaining choice and control will help boost your confidence, enhance your quality of life and make you feel more at home.
Flexible Support
One of the key benefits of care homes offering personal care services is their flexibility, which helps avoid unnecessary dependence and promotes self-reliance. Whether you need full-time support or occasional assistance, your care can be tailored to preserve as much independence and personal choice as possible.
As needs change over time, support plans can be adjusted without disrupting your lifestyle. By striking a balance between support and independence, you can maintain a sense of freedom while still feeling safe and reassured that your needs are being met when needed.
Community Engagement
Staying socially connected is vital for mental and emotional well-being. Care homes often offer a range of group fitness classes, activities, outings and communal events that provide a strong sense of community. While you may not always feel like it, you’re encouraged to participate, contribute and form friendships, for it can help reduce the feeling of isolation.
Additionally, these social interactions can help stimulate the mind, boost mood and support independent thinking and expression, all crucial elements to living independently, even within a supportive setting.
Skill Retention and Development
Care homes can play a significant role in helping you to retain your existing skills and even develop new ones. Opportunities for cooking, crafting, gardening, or using technology are often embedded into daily life. Not only are you encouraged to pursue your interests, but you are also encouraged to try new activities.
As part of personalised care services, staff can guide without taking over, helping you to reinforce your ability to manage parts of your life independently. This ongoing engagement supports cognitive function and physical coordination while building confidence. Far from being an end step in your life, care homes can be environments of personal growth and lifelong learning.
The Importance of Maintaining Your Independence
Independence is closely linked to self-esteem, dignity and overall well-being. Retaining the ability to make choices and perform tasks, even small ones, can significantly boost your sense of purpose and happiness. It can also contribute to improved mental health by preventing feelings of helplessness or isolation.
Not only this, but it can help you maintain your physical health by encouraging movement, engagement and daily stimulation. Ultimately, it allows you to feel in control of your life, reinforcing your identity and values. It can also bring peace of mind to your loved ones, knowing that you will receive the highest quality of care and attention.
How is Independence Promoted in a Care Setting?
Staff are trained to support rather than take over, using techniques that encourage residents to participate in their care. Care homes may incorporate adaptive equipment and layout modifications to facilitate more effortless movement and the performance of daily tasks.
Regular assessments will be carried out to ensure that the level of support continues to meet your changing needs while promoting your independence. By nurturing your independence in both small and significant ways, care homes can help you lead a meaningful, independent life.
Hello, my name is Bethany, and I am the owner, manager and third generation in the family business. I have grown up with the Chestnuts, and it is a second home to me and my children. My home/work life is very mixed, and that’s ok because being at work feels like being at home.