Care at home: options, support and costs

Many older people want to live in a familiar environment. Even with health-related limitations, care at home is often feasible. This is usually provided by family carers. Care in this case includes help with things like getting around, dressing and undressing, washing, and going to the toilet. But home care can also include assistance with day-to-day tasks such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, and dealing with the authorities.

For many people, care at home by relatives creates a strong bond, but it can also be a considerable burden. In Switzerland, there are various services available to support older people in their everyday lives and ease the burden on their relatives. Organisations such as Spitex and Pro Senectute, for example, offer assistance and care at home. By working together, family members and specialists can create the basis for safe, age-friendly living.

Many family members are responsible for caring for their loved ones at home. They look after things like shopping, cleaning and accompanying their relative when they’re out and about. As we get older, we tend to need more help with basic tasks like going to the toilet, personal hygiene and taking medication. At the same time, relatives often struggle with the time and emotional toll this takes. Outpatient care services can supplement family care for the elderly and make sure older people can be cared for at home. Home care takes various forms:

• Professional care at home: Outpatient care services offer nursing and medical care at home. Carers can help with things like personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, getting up, moving around and walking. In many cases, they also carry out medically prescribed tasks, like treating wounds and administering injections. Carers will tailor their services to the individual’s needs. They can be booked for short appointments to perform specific tasks, or for longer visits.
• 24-hour care at home: A carer or support worker lives in the home of the person in need of care. They are on hand around the clock, which creates a feeling of security. This type of care is fully individual – it depends entirely on the person’s daily routine. The carer must have their own room; this is a prerequisite for 24-hour care at home.
• Daytime and overnight care at home: A carer visits the person’s home either during the day or at night. This model is designed for people who only need support at certain times. During the day, the carer will help the person with general tasks, keep them company and accompany them outside. Overnight care at home focuses on medical monitoring. As well as providing security, this also gives family members a break while the individual receives ongoing support.

Talk to your relatives and think about where it might be useful for you to have some extra support. Find out which outpatient services are available in your area and what they offer. The Helsana health consultation service will be happy to assist you. The consultation is free of charge for everyone with Helsana supplementary insurance. You might like to discuss your options with people you know as well. They may be able to give you useful tips and recommendations. Outpatient care services often also offer non-binding advice. In a personal consultation, you can often quickly establish whether the service fits your expectations of care at home for the elderly.

Senior care at home for advanced care needs

In addition to basic care, some care services also offer specialised options. These are designed for people with mental illnesses, those who need intensive medical care or patients with chronic dementia or Alzheimer’s. Care at home is a particular challenge in such cases. Professional services help relatives cope with these complex care situations and provide support in everyday life.

In cases of severe dementia, caring for the elderly at home often becomes infeasible if there is no 24-hour care available. As the illness progresses, the level of care and the demands placed on the carer at home generally increase. In situations like these, think carefully whether care at home is enough. You should also consider how your needs might develop in the future and which care options are suitable for this.

Today, there are many services that offer support for senior citizens in their homes. As well as straightforward care, providers also offer smaller services that can make everyday life much easier. This kind of support is particularly beneficial for older people who do not need care. We’ve summarised the most common types of home support in old age below:

• Carers: You can receive support with basic care at home if you are no longer able to manage on your own due to health problems. A carer will drop by and wash your hair, for example, or take care of your personal hygiene for you or help you get dressed.
• Aids: There are various practical devices available to help with home care that promote independence with everyday tasks despite any limitations or restrictions you may have. Examples include stairlifts, gripping aids and grab handles. There are also digital aids that automatically trigger an emergency call in an emergency, such as the Red Cross emergency call device. You can find out which aids are covered by OASI here (information in German).
• Domestic workers: Household helpers for senior citizens generally assist in tasks such as shopping, cooking, cleaning and doing the washing.
• Help at home for the elderly: If you no longer feel comfortable at home or do not want to leave the house alone, help at home can be a valuable source of support. Caregivers will look after you at home, accompany you to appointments and take on additional tasks if necessary.
• Delivery services: Meal delivery services bring regular hot meals straight to your door. You can also use delivery services to get drinks, food and other everyday necessities.
• Driver services: Various organisations such as the Swiss Red Cross offer driver and assistant services specifically for older people. These services can provide valuable support for things like visits to the doctor, shopping and social activities.
• Financial advice: Organisations such as Pro Senectute offer support for financial and administrative matters. This includes help with filling in forms, budgeting and applying for social benefits.

In addition to family help and professional care services, support for senior citizens at home is available in many regions. This sees dedicated volunteers visit people in need of care to help them with everyday tasks or lend a hand around the house. These services are often provided by parishes, neighbourhood initiatives or charitable associations.

Choosing the right type of housing and care in old age is among the most sensitive and difficult decisions you can make – both for people in need of care themselves and their relatives. Aside from your health situation, personal preferences, familiar habits and financial considerations all play important parts. To help you weigh up the pros and cons, we’ve put together a list of the key arguments for and against home care below.

Advantages of care at home:

• Familiar environment: Care at home allows the person in need of care to remain in their familiar environment. The long-standing ties a person has to their home, neighbourhood and surroundings offer security, a point of reference and a strong sense of belonging.
• Proximity to family: Being cared for at home by relatives strengthens ties to family and close caregivers. Regular contact, conversation and shared activities enrich everyday life. Family members are also often better placed to take personal preferences and needs into account.
• Make your own decisions: Home care enables people to live their own lives however they choose. For many people, the familiarity of home represents quality of life, independence and the ability to maintain individual routines.
• Wide support network: There is a wide range of services for elderly care in your own home in Switzerland. They can help relieve the burden on family members and ensure reliable care. There are also a number of modern aids for home care that can ensure safety as care needs increase.
• Cost savings with minimal care needs: Below care level 6 (e.g. care level 2 or 4), home care is often cheaper than staying in a nursing home. Outpatient care services offer flexible packages based on the actual needs of the person concerned.

Disadvantages of care at home:

• Burden on family members: Being cared for at home by relatives often involves a considerable physical, emotional and psychological burden – one which is often underestimated.
• Loneliness: Mobility restrictions often mean that a person in need of care seldom leaves their home and has less social contact. A lack of visitors and a home that isn’t sufficiently accessible mean that loneliness in old age can become more of an issue, and well-being may suffer as a result.
• Lack of accessibility: Many homes are not designed with accessibility in mind. This makes it more difficult to care for elderly people in their own homes. Conversion may be difficult or prohibitively expensive.
• Higher costs: Intensive senior care often involves considerable outlay to ensure the care and safety of the person concerned. In addition to the cost of buying or renting medical aids, professional services and the time required also increase the financial burden.

Ultimately, only you can decide which advantages and disadvantages are decisive for your situation and how important they are. Find out all you can about the different options for care at home rather than rushing into a decision.

Get professional advice and find out about the different housing options in later life before you make a decision. Take your time and talk to your relatives about whether care at home is the right choice for you. This will help make your home age-friendly and ensure stability – even if your care needs increase over time.