What is Relationship-based Home Care?

Imagine being cared for by complete strangers. For many older people, that’s what a hospital visit is like, and it’s certainly the only solution in an emergency. For others, that’s their experience of aged care institutions – a list of set tasks completed daily by busy and anonymous shift workers.

At home though, we know it’s best to be cared for by people you know, who truly care for your wellbeing. Carers you are comfortable with; carers you can trust.

That’s what Relationship-based Home Care is all about. It’s about you – being cared for properly, in your own home, by carers who know you and care for you.

Better for You

The research proves what we already know – older people really benefit from personalised relationship-based care because it means your needs are put first. Your carers get to know you and what you need. They co-ordinate the right care provided by doctors, specialists, pharmacists and family members. They know you, and they care.

According to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, this type of patient-centred care improves the quality and safety of care, decreases costs, improves satisfaction among care providers, and improves the experience of the care recipient – you.

Caring Matters

We’ve all heard disturbing stories in respect to residential aged care facilities, and there is a long road to recovery. It’s little wonder that staying home to receive quality relationship-based home care has never been more popular. Relationship-based home care is the right answer for more and more Australians – and it doesn’t mean higher costs. It’s about smarter spending, not spending more.

Our Solution

At Home Instead, we believe the solution is to increase awareness and choice about the value and benefits of relationship-based home care versus the provision of only task-based services. Home Instead is advocating to the Federal government as they review government funded home care programs, that they focus on home care services that support the building of one-on-one relationships of trust between the client and the carer. It’s quite simple – this is about choice and quality of services, and Home Instead are committed to providing high quality relationship-based care at home for every client we support. We are all happier in our own homes with people caring for us that we know and trust.

Relationship-based home care has multiple benefits

Care Ecosystem

Relationship-based home care improves quality of care and lowers costs. Relationship-based home care enables coordination of care across the entire care team, including family members, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. According to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, this type of patient-centred care improves the quality and safety of care, decreases costs, improves satisfaction among care providers, and improves the experience of the care recipient.

Individuals & Their Families

Relationship-based care allows for greater trust and comfort in caring. Research shows that meeting the emotional needs of individuals is just as important to their well being as their physical state. Relationship-based care supports continuity of care, which is critical to supporting emotional health, particularly for those living with dementia. With relationship-based home care, the carers know the care recipient, their needs and preferences, and often their family.

Society

Relationship-based home care creates career opportunities and improves job satisfaction and retention among professional caregivers. In 2016, care job vacancies in Australia exceeded applicants by 400%. A focus on relationship-based home care can help grow the pool of professional trained caregivers. Research from Europe and the US suggests that relationship-based care is more rewarding for caregivers than giving them a checklist of tasks to complete.