Supported Living vs Residential Care: What's the difference?
Supported Living Services
Find out the difference between and benefits of supported living services and residential care. Supported living services in Edinburgh & The Lothians.
Adults with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions, both physical and mental require a level of consistent and compassionate care that makes life as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Typically, the two care options in these scenarios are supported living or residential care. But what is the difference, and how do you determine which is the right option for you?
In this blog, we will explain the differences between supported living and residential care, and how to choose which type of care is most suitable for your needs.
What is supported living?
Supported living services are for those who require professional support in their day-to-day lives, but still have enough independence to live at home safely.
Examples of those who may benefit from supportive living services are:
People with a physical or learning disability;
People with ongoing mental health conditions;
Older adults who require additional support;
Young adults leaving care;
People getting back on their feet after a period of homelessness.
Supported living services are completely bespoke to each person. The goal is to help individuals live with more independence and choice.
Examples of the care provided as part of a supported living service include:
Picking up and taking to day services, college, or school
Support accessing health services
Support in managing finances, such as paying bills or rent
Support in completing Tenancy Agreements
Support in making choices around enablement and recovery
What is residential care?
Residential care is care provided in a professional facility. Rather than continuing to live at home, an individual will move into a care home.
There are two different kinds of residential care:
Residential care: Provides daily personal care, such as washing, dressing, and meals.
Nursing care: Provides an additional level of round-the-clock nursing support from qualified nurses.
Both have trained staff available at all times to help residents with anything they need.
Advantages of supported living care
More independence
Supported living is designed to encourage independence and help people - as much as possible - to live their day-to-day life as normal. The goal is to give each client as much control as possible over their routines, activities, and how they spend their time.
Improved social interactions
Supported living can give an individual the confidence they need to interact with others in their communities and get involved in group activities. Building strong relationships helps to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Improved quality of life
Access to tailored supported living services helps to improve an individual’s overall physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
The more confident someone feels in their ability to make decisions and perform tasks independently, the better their quality of life will be.
Highly Personalised Care
The key advantage of supported living services is that the care package is built around each individual, while all residents in a care home will follow the same daily routine and structures.
The level and type of support they receive will depend completely on what they need, their circumstances, and their goals.
When residential care is the right choice
Residential care needs to be considered in two key instances:
When your loved one is no longer safe to live in their home
When your loved one requires extensive support or 24-hour care
If your loved one’s care needs become more substantial, they need support throughout both the day and night, or you are struggling to manage their needs at home, then it might be time to consider residential care.
In residential care environments, trained staff are available all day, every day to help with anything your loved one needs. They also create a structured routine and opportunities to socialise with other residents on a daily basis.
Why choose Medway Care Services for Supported Living Care in Edinburgh?
At Medway Care Services, our aim is to keep people safe and comfortable in their own homes for as long as it is practical to do so.
We partner with private individuals and housing associations across Edinburgh & The Lothians to provide care for people who wish to live independently without compromising on their safety or security.
We can provide a wide range of social care support, and create a bespoke package that best suits each person’s living arrangements.
Hopefully this blog has helped you to understand the key differences between supported living services and residential care, who each service is best suited to, and what the right choice for your family will be.
Neither option is necessarily better than the other. Only you will be able to determine which option is the best kind of choice for your loved one, and whether remaining at home or moving into a professional care environment will be best for their long-term wellbeing.
If you’re considering supported living services in Edinburgh & The Lothians, please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements or give us a call on 0131 516 9779.
