Is Supported Living Right For Me?

Whether you’re considering supported living for yourself or a loved one, it can be tricky to know if it is the right choice for you. With so many different definitions of what supported living means, especially when it comes to caring for the elderly, it can all be quite confusing.

One thing we can all agree on, however, is that some things can become more difficult with age. You can even start to feel more isolated as leaving the home becomes more of a challenge than a joy.

This is exactly where supported living can help you, or your loved one, regain some much-needed confidence. Through a personalised care plan which aims to give you the right level of support and care at home and to help you get out and about.

What is supported living?

Supported living has many other names like domiciliary care, home care, or even just helping the elderly at home. Ultimately, supported living is about giving an elderly person the support they need to maintain their lifestyle at home.

Supported living is not the same as full-time residential care, it’s more of a helping hand to enable you to continue enjoying the things you love for longer. Because of this, supported living can take on many different forms, including:

Help with mobility: from helping you spend more time in the garden to supporting you with getting around shops. There are lots of options to help you remain mobile and allow you the confidence to keep going to the places you love.
Personal hygiene: sometimes you might need help with getting dressed, washing or toileting. You can be provided with as much or as little support as you need.
Preparing meals: ensuring you have a blanched and nutritious diet can be a challenge at times. However, with the help of supported living you could have meals prepared for you on a regular basis.

What are the benefits of supported living?

There are so many benefits to supported living for the individual who is being cared for and their loved ones. As the level of support can be tailored entirely to your needs, it’s a unique service that allows you to enjoy a high quality of life from your home.

For those who require assistance, supported living can help you regain your independence and prevent you from feeling alone. With an estimated 1.4million elderly people feeling lonely in the UK, getting support to stay connected can be an absolute lifeline for many.

As for loved ones, sometimes looking after an elderly relative can become challenging. Wanting to provide the right amount of support for them and still enjoy your time spent with them can be hard to balance.

Sometimes, getting a little bit of extra help can allow loved ones to spend more quality time with an elderly relative.

For some, it’s as simple as knowing that their elderly loved one is looked after when they can’t be there because of work or providing specialist care they’re not qualified to offer. For others, it might be getting support with mobility so they can continue to enjoy going to their favourite places together.

Choosing the right care provider.

Choosing the right supported living provider is another crucial step in making this option work best for you or your loved one. It’s important to do thorough research and ask plenty of questions.

Look for providers with a good reputation, qualified and compassionate staff, and a flexible approach to care. This ensures that the support you receive is professional and personalised to suit your preferences and needs.

Many of the families we support say they wish they’d come to us sooner. For our elderly patients, it’s a way of maintaining their independence and socialising, for our families they’re grateful for the support we can offer.

Get in touch with our team who will be happy to answer any questions you might have. We are always happy to talk you through your needs and come up with a plan which will best support you and your loved ones.

Transitioning to supported living can be a big change, but it doesn’t have to be daunting.