Promoting Individual Freedom and Independence with Home Care

Importance of Promoting Independence and Individual Freedom in Home Care

In recent years, at-home support services have become increasingly popular in the healthcare delivery system due to their revolutionary approach to care coordination. Home care providers focus on a high-quality, person-centred, humanised outlook on supporting individuals with complex needs. Services may vary from occasional visits to delivering live-in care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Planning a home care package includes successful models of prescription management, personal care coordination, and social care.

Whether your loved one has a learning disability, recovers from a hospital stay due to an injury, or struggles with dementia – a quality home care provider can help on their pathway to independence. Trained carers can deliver professional assistance with medication management and support the individual with day-to-day activities at home.

Depending on your specific needs and financial circumstances, you can pay for your own care or receive funding from your local council. Individuals who are eligible for palliative care or end-of-life care can benefit from specialised support programs and the holistic approach of experienced clinicians. Leaf Complex Care provides humanised and proactive support to individuals with complex care needs, delivering support across the UK.

What Is Home Care All About?

Being able to access the support you need in your familiar surroundings offers a sense of independence, comfort, and safety. While living in a nursing home can be an isolating experience, home care providers prioritise the person’s social integration and self-esteem. Receiving at-home support means having one or more trained clinicians focus on your health and care needs. Therefore, a dedicated live-in carer and the person they serve can develop a special bond of trust and companionship.

Common benefits of home care and support include the following:

Maximising empowerment and promoting independence
Medical care at home
A safe and comfortable environment
Improving physical health and mental well-being
Emotional companionship
Involvement in the local community
Peace of mind for the whole family

Ways to Promote Independence and Individual Freedom in Home Care

The primary benefit of at-home support services is the sense of individual freedom linked to keeping your own tenancy. Although some people are concerned that receiving home care may decrease their independence, it can actually empower the individual and help them reach their full potential. Below are listed the various ways of promoting independence that your support worker should implement in the care planning process.

Providing Choices

A quality home care provider should work closely with the whole family to tailor a support plan in accordance with the person’s needs. It’s up to the individual to choose and control the schedule so that services are delivered at their preferred time. The care plan can always be enhanced and adapted to the individual’s current health and personal wishes.

Encouraging Self-Care

Self-care activities are a crucial part of improving your health and leading an independent life. The support worker will help you stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet by preparing regular, nutritious meals. Other self-care priorities include getting regular exercise and balanced sleep. Furthermore, care and support providers encourage a positive attitude on your health journey.

Supporting Hobbies and Interests

Individuals with complex care needs can embrace meaningful hobbies that improve their physical and mental well-being. The support worker should encourage the individual to spend a part of the day on activities that keep their mind and body healthy. Examples of beneficial interests and hobbies include walking, gardening, reading, writing a diary, knitting, and playing chess.

Promoting Socialisation

Social integration is significantly beneficial for the individual’s mental health and self-esteem. Therefore, home care also includes help with getting out of the house, maintaining relationships with friends, and staying connected to the local community. Your support worker will offer you transportation so that you can go shopping, share a cup of coffee with friends, or join a book club.

Allowing Privacy

Confidentiality is one of the most important aspects of providing home care for individuals with complex care needs. Assisting a person with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, and grooming requires respect for their dignity and boundaries. Apart from informing other members of the healthcare team about the individual’s needs, support workers should not share information without the individual’s permission.

Benefits of Promoting Independence and Individual Freedom in Home Care

Promoting independence extends to many more spheres of life than just basic physical tasks like getting out of bed, showering, bathing, or dressing. It is crucial to give individuals with complex care needs as much agency and control over their lives as possible. Home support providers allow individuals to decide where they live, handle their finances, and outline their daily schedules. This way, support services at home maximise the person’s individual freedom and put them in charge of every aspect of their life.

Not only do at-home support workers promote independence, but they also help the people they serve to maintain the level of independence reached during the care package. One of the main goals of at-home support packages is to equip you with the tools needed to do things independently when the care worker is not there to help.

Improved Quality of Life

Promoting independence in individuals with complex care needs improves their quality of life in various ways. Completing everyday activities on one’s own helps the individual stay healthy and maintain good mental health. Unlike nursing homes, at-home care allows people to lead fulfilling lives in their familiar surroundings and share valuable moments with their loved ones. Furthermore, regular physical activity can help to prevent cognitive decline.

Increased Sense of Self-Esteem and Confidence

Being in charge of your schedule and retaining the ability to complete everyday tasks on your own can do wonders for the individual’s self-esteem. An increased sense of independence helps the individual feel happier and find a purpose in life.

Increasing someone’s sense of independence in regard to a specific activity can boost their confidence in other spheres of life. For example, helping individuals with complex care needs to feel confident enough to go to the hairdresser can make them aware of their abilities and encourage them to try completing other tasks independently.

Improved Physical and Mental Health

The promotion of independence by home care service providers is beneficial for the individual’s physical and mental health. Employing physical activities in your routine can prevent many complications of existing health challenges. Having an established schedule improves the person’s memory skills and prevents cognitive decline. Finally, having the company of your family members and feeling included in the community can prevent various mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety.

Leaf Complex Care is Dedicated to the Promotion of Individual Freedom and Independence

At Leaf Complex Care, promoting individual freedom with home care is our top priority. Our trained support workers aim to support people with complex care needs in their own homes. From personal care for people with learning disabilities to palliative and end-of-life care, our expert team is here to provide care for individuals while helping them stay close to their families and friends.

Not only do we provide medical assistance and support with everyday tasks, but we also focus on the person’s independence, self-esteem, and involvement in the local community. The advancement of human rights and inclusivity is our main goal in providing social care services. Our support workers prioritise the privacy, dignity, and personal boundaries of the people we serve.

If you need a quality care provider for yourself or a loved one with complex needs, Leaf Complex Care is the right place for you. We deliver CQC-regulated services in Bristol, Slough, Somerset, and the Midlands.