10 Reasons Why Home Care is Better Than a Care Home

Why More Families Are Choosing Home Care

More and more families are turning to home care because it allows their loved ones to remain surrounded by the warmth of home, a place filled with comfort, memories, and familiarity, while still receiving the personalised support they need. The chance to stay close, to share everyday moments in an environment that feels safe and genuine, is often reason enough.

Picture the depth of home care when it is strengthened by a whole network of support, including their families, guardians, close friends, a dedicated team and the wider community, all working together. The impact becomes especially powerful when this collective care focuses on nurturing one person’s emotional well-being, creating a safety net of understanding, reassurance, and belonging that no service alone could ever provide, especially when it comes to complex care.

In the past three years, we have published two valuable publications to see the progress and the challenges that supported people, their families, and case commissioners face. When we asked a supported person about how they felt when being placed far from home, most of the responses were:

“I felt isolated and starting all over again to build connection.”

Home care allows people to maintain existing relationships in the communities where they grew up and spent most of their lives, while receiving the right support.

1. Familiar and Comfortable Environment

One of the most significant advantages of home services and personal care at home is the feeling of comfort and familiarity. is the feeling of comfort and familiarity. Home is the place where people feel most at ease. People do feel better when their belongings surround them, are in their own rooms, and daily tasks and routines. For older people, especially those living with conditions such as dementia, staying in a familiar environment can help reduce stress and confusion, instead of being placed in residential care. Home is also where family, friends, and pets are, which adds to a person’s sense of security and belonging.

Additionally, comfort at home supports better physical health. People are often more willing to eat, sleep, and follow routines they enjoy. Simple comforts like a favourite blanket, pillow, or chair can improve sleep, reduce agitation, and help maintain energy levels, all of which are essential for overall well-being.

2. Personalised Care

Another important reason for choosing home care services is personalised care. In a nursing home, staff have to divide their attention among many residents. At home, a support worker or multiple (if needed) can focus on one person at a time. This means the care is more tailored to their needs, preferences, and lifestyle, whether that means preparing meals they enjoy, following specific medical instructions, or respecting cultural traditions.

Personalised care also means adapting to changes over time. As needs evolve, support workers can manage and adjust their support, introducing new therapies, modifying schedules, or helping with emerging health concerns. This flexibility ensures care remains relevant and practical, which is more difficult to achieve in institutional settings.

3. Greater Independence

One of the greatest strengths of home care is the independence it gives people in shaping their own lives. Unlike care homes, which often operate within fixed routines and shared schedules, home care allows individuals to make daily choices that reflect their own preferences, what time they get up, what meals they enjoy, how they spend their day, and who they spend it with.

The importance of this freedom is strongly reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which recognises the right of all disabled people to live independently and participate fully in community life. Yet too often, policy language equates independence with doing everything unsupported, which can distort the true meaning. For many people, real independence is not about being left to manage alone, it is about having the right kind of support that makes full participation in life possible.

For disabled people, independence is not about managing alone but about having the choice, control, and support needed to live life on equal terms with non-disabled peers. This distinction is especially relevant when considering care options. Greater independence is one of the most powerful reasons why many people prefer home care to a residential care home. In their own home, people can retain control over daily routines, decisions, and lifestyle choices, while receiving tailored support that encourages them to live the life they want, rather than being bound by institutional rules and restrictions.

4. Enhanced Privacy and Dignity

Privacy is another important factor. People have their own rooms, bathrooms, and personal space at home, which is not always possible in shared facilities. This helps preserve dignity, especially when receiving intimate care such as bathing or dressing. Carers can assist respectfully and discreetly, allowing people to feel more secure. The ability to keep personal routines and maintain boundaries supports not just physical comfort but also emotional well-being.

Having privacy at home also protects personal identity. People can decorate their space, follow their routines, and maintain habits that reflect who they are. This sense of control reinforces dignity and self-esteem, vital for overall happiness, especially during vulnerable periods of life.

Read more about How to Maintain Privacy and Dignity When Providing Personal Care.

5. Closer to Family and Friends

Half of all families have to journey more than 50 miles to see relatives who have been placed in hospitals or care facilities. For many, the distance is even more challenging, and over a third (38%) cover more than 100 miles, while around one in ten (13%) face journeys of up to 300 miles. Being far from loved ones places unnecessary strain on families, especially when the right support could instead be offered closer to home, within their own communities.

Home care keeps loved ones close. Families do not have to work around visiting hours or travel long distances to spend time together. Friends and neighbours can also remain a regular part of life, keeping social connections alive. This closeness provides reassurance for the person receiving care and family members, who can be actively involved and present without the barriers that often exist in care facilities.

Being close to family also allows for shared experiences that enrich life. Celebrating birthdays, cooking together, or simply enjoying conversations and laughter at home helps maintain emotional bonds. These shared moments are important for the person receiving care and their loved ones, creating lasting memories and a stronger sense of belonging.

6. Cost-Effectiveness

While the cost of care is always an important consideration, home care can often be more cost-effective than institutional care. Families can choose the needed support level, from a few hours of weekly help to full-time support. This flexibility means they are paying only for what is required, making it a more manageable option financially. In some cases, especially when part-time care is enough, home care can significantly reduce overall expenses compared to the fixed costs of residential homes.

Cost-effectiveness also comes from avoiding unnecessary services. Home care allows families to focus spending on what truly matters, like health support, safety modifications, or meaningful activities, rather than paying for the broad, all-inclusive packages that nursing homes often require. This targeted approach can relieve financial stress while still providing excellent care.

7. Emotional and Mental Well-being

Studies show that people who remain at home often feel less lonely and more connected, supporting better overall health. Familiar surroundings and daily routines provide comfort and reduce anxiety. The stability of the home also helps prevent depression and fosters a sense of security that strengthens resilience. Home care also encourages people to do what they love the most, which improves mood and cognitive function. Whether gardening, reading, or listening to favourite music, engaging in familiar and enjoyable tasks boosts emotional well-being.

This personalised approach helps prevent boredom, frustration, and isolation, all of which are common in institutional settings.

Read more about The Benefits of Professional Mental Health Support in the Comfort of the Home.

8. Building Long-Term Relationships With Support Workers

Instead of meeting different staff members every day, people are often supported by the same small team of workers who get to know them well. Over time, these relationships often allow people to discuss their needs and preferences more openly, based on trust, respect, and understanding. This continuity improves the quality of care and provides companionship and emotional support, which can be just as valuable as the practical help itself.

Long-term relationships with support workers also improve communication and responsiveness. Carers who know the person well can notice subtle changes in mood, health, or preferences early, allowing for timely interventions.

9. Better Quality of Life

Ultimately, home care contributes to a better quality of life. Living in a place filled with memories, enjoying freedom of choice, and receiving personalised support all create a meaningful and fulfilling life. People are encouraged to continue living in ways that bring them joy, whether reading or spending time with pets and loved ones. A better quality of life is also reflected in health and social outcomes. People receiving home care are often more active, socially open, and emotionally content, which strengthens their overall physical and mental health.

10. Continuity and Consistency of Care

When we think about continuity and consistency of care, we often ask ourselves: What difference does it make when the same people show up daily, offering stable support?

We have the answer, right through Vladan’s care journey.

• At the start of his care journey, Vladan was non-speaking, withdrawn, and heavily reliant on structured routines to feel safe.
• A consistent team of support workers, therapists, and specialists worked with him day after day, learning his strengths, respecting his pace, and encouraging his growth.
• Because the same people supported him, they noticed the small but important changes:
  • The first time he asked for water,
  • When he started naming body parts,
  • Or when he used his PECS board with confidence.

As part of a continuous rhythm of care that built his trust and opened the door to progress further. But what if carers had changed every week?

• Would Vladan have felt safe enough to try new things?
• Would he have trusted adults again after difficult past experiences in institutional care?
• Would his progress in speech, cooking, and social inclusion have been so remarkable?

Continuity in his care meant more than repeating the same routines—it meant:

• Trust – feeling secure with familiar support workers.
• Belonging – having a team that truly knew him.
• Steady growth – learning skills in an environment that stayed the same.

Today, Vladan is achieving outcomes that many thought impossible at the beginning:

• He writes his own name.
• He cooks simple meals like omelettes and scones.
• He confidently participates in community activities and builds friendships.

His journey makes us ask: Is care about simply filling hours, or is it about building lives through consistency, compassion, and connection?

Home Care with Leaf Complex Care

Our support services are designed to meet people where they are, in the environment where they feel safest and most at ease.

Families often ask: “Will home care really make a difference?” The answer is yes.

• People we support develop new life skills, from communication to cooking.
• Families report greater peace of mind knowing their loved one is safe and cared for.
• Many people, once considered “too complex to support,” thrive in a consistent, person-centred environment.

Why Leaf Complex Care?

• Person-centred approach
• Specialist training: our teams are skilled in autism-informed support, trauma-informed support, PROACT-SCIPr-UK®, BSL, and more.
• Involving people in their own care: care plans are co-created with the person, the family, guardians, or stakeholders, for the person’s best outcomes.
• Proven outcomes

If you need specialist support, please make a referral to our therapy team.

Our offices: Bristol, the South East, the Midlands and Somerset.

–Developing not just a care plan, but a life plan, written by the person living it.-