GoodOaks shines bright: Finalists in the Home Care Awards 2025!
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Firstly, let’s look at the difference between care homes and home care. Both provisions set out to achieve the same goal: to support individuals who need assistance with daily activities due to age, an illness, or disability. The difference is HOW the care is provided.
A care home, also known as a nursing or residential home, is a facility that a person moves into to receive round-the-clock care from trained staff. They can vary in size and offer different levels of care from minimal assistance with daily tasks to specialised medical care. All care homes in the UK are regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure they meet their set standards
Homecare, also known as domiciliary care, involves receiving care services in a person’s own home. A care professional will visit that person at home at agreed times and days and help them with a number of tasks that can include assistance with personal care, household tasks, medication management, companionship, and even specialist care. As with care homes, homecare providers are also regulated and monitored by the Care Quality Commission to ensure standards are being met.
Care home Pro’s
Moving into a care home can provide a great sense of comfort to family members. Staff are on hand 24/7 to provide care and support which can also be a huge relief for the new resident who may have been struggling to cope at home beforehand. That person will always have company. Life in a care home offers opportunities for social interaction and companionship with other residents. Often care homes will arrange weekly quizzes, singing, music and more. This can help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation whilst maintaining fun and variety of life. As well as managing all nutritional needs by typically providing balanced and nutritious food, staff are also there to help with managing all medications, easing any worry of forgetting to take medication or missing a repeat prescription.
Homecare Pro’s
Homecare is tailored to each individual and provides a bespoke care package that places that person at the centre of their care. Care professionals are carefully selected and trained to support people in their own home with a wide variety of tasks from personal care and light household duties to specialist dementia and palliative care. Being cared for in the familiarity of home is a huge benefit to a lot of people who have spent their lives building them. Being surrounded by memories and familiar things allows someone to continue enjoying the things they have worked hard to create. Homecare gives you control over your own routine as care professionals will work around you, your likes and dislikes and wishes. Being able to age in your own home gives a huge sense of independence but it can also remove the worry and stress that comes with moving to an unfamiliar place with new surroundings. In some cases, homecare can be more cost-effective than residential care, especially for individuals who require less intensive support. Specialist care is also available so you needn’t worry if your loved one has a particular condition such as dementia or a severe disability. Their needs will be met, but in the comfort of home surroundings.
Care home provision in Kent
Rather alarmingly, the provision of care homes in Kent has received some troubling press over the past year, with a number of care homes being ‘red rated’ by the county council. This comes after a report stated that 14 care homes had been placed into special measures. These figures will naturally be concerning for worried families who may be looking at care options for a family member. Some comments included residents being locked in their rooms during the night without their consent and even reported a care home in New Romney where people were not protected from harm. Click here to read the story.
Choose quality, safe care
From what you can see in the above, the quality of care from some care homes in this area appears to be inadequate and in some cases unsafe. A more trusted and reliable option for families looking at care options for their loved ones would be homecare. At GoodOaks we understand the importance of people staying at home and we tailor our services to meet the unique needs and preferences of each individual we serve. To speak to a member of our team click here.
