Choosing between home care and nursing homes is never easy for family caregivers. Many questions and concerns go into making these big decisions; quality of care and cost are some of the main factors to consider.

Home Care vs Nursing Homes in Malaysia

Most family caregivers prefer their loved ones to receive care in the comfort of their own homes, while others may opt for 24/7 access to medical care and services offered by nursing homes.

We’ve put together some thoughts below to help you feel less overwhelmed and better informed in making the best decision for your loved one.

What type of help do you need?

Deciding the type of care your loved one needs is essential before choosing between home care and a nursing home. Start with the three questions below—your answers will help guide decision-making.

1. Do you need someone to help around the house and assist with daily activities such as medication reminders, meal preparation, personal grooming and companionship?
2. Does your loved one require palliative care or specialised medical assistance?
3. Do you need care for a couple of hours a day or 24/7 for your senior loved ones when you are away?

The questions above serve as a starting point for determining the scope of care your loved one needs. If you answered yes to any of these questions, read more about the advantages and drawbacks of home care and nursing homes.

Care in the comfort of your home

Often seen as the more convenient option, home care is gaining traction quickly in Malaysia. Homage offers the services of nurses, caregivers and medically trained professionals on a full-time or part-time basis at reasonable pricing.

Ideal for family caregivers who need respite from time to time, home care offers flexible care services that can start as short as an hour. The scope of care services can range from dispensing medication and meal preparation to palliative care and tube feeding.

Your loved one would receive personalised, expert care from a care professional (also known as a ‘Care Pro’) in the comfort of your own home. These Care Pros are familiar with a range of mobility and medical conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease stages.

It would be wise to establish a care plan that is tailored to the likes, dislikes and personality of your loved one. This could even include looking through photo albums, listening to music, or reading aloud.

If possible, get to know the Care Pro who will be caring for your loved one. This is important to ensure your loved one is comfortable with the caregiver.

Day care centres – an alternative solution

Ideal for family caregivers who are employed full-time or simply seeking a break from caregiving duties, daycare centres are a great alternative. Day care centres in Malaysia, such as Rumah Alzheimer’s Day Care Centre (PJACC), provide programmes that incorporate cognitive, physical, social and sensory stimulation for dementia patients.

Their program aims to help your loved ones feel happy and fulfilled while diverting them from negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and despair.

The current Dementia Therapeutic Daycare Centre in Ipoh also offers cognitive rehabilitation for persons with dementia and training for family caregivers.

Photo Credit: Caring With You Dementia Centre, Kuala Lumpur

When to opt for a nursing home

If you can no longer provide or arrange the care your loved one needs, it may be worth considering long-term professional care and feeling a sense of guilt? It is natural to feel unsure, confused, or even guilty, but remember—you are acting in your loved one’s best interests by ensuring they receive the care they need to live well.

Often perceived as long-term care, nursing homes offer services similar to home care providers but with additional benefits. These benefits include 24/7 on-site support from registered nurses or medical practitioners, transportation for doctor’s appointments, and group activities with other residents.

Compared to home care, nursing homes can be costly and may lack the flexibility of a tailored care plan. Your loved one would be living away from home with other residents, following the same daily schedule. It can take time for your loved one (and yourself) to adjust and embrace the new environment and change their way of living.

Considering the turmoil of emotions that come with having to opt for a nursing home, it is worth exploring all other options beforehand. Talk to other family caregivers who are going through the same struggle—it may help to hear how they have dealt with this challenging situation.

Tip: It is highly recommended to visit selected nursing homes before making a choice. Ask questions to determine the quality of their care services, frequency of activities and general perception from other residents.

Maintaining the best quality of life

After considering all the options, it comes down to ensuring your loved one’s quality of life. We hope the pointers above help clarify the decision between home care and nursing homes.

Curious to hear what other caregivers think? Please weigh in on the discussion in the Project We Forgot Dementia Community on Facebook.

Choosing Homage for Your Loved Ones’ Care

Need caregiving support but prefer your loved one to age at home? With Homage, Care Professionals can provide companionship, nursing care, nighttime care, and home therapy to help keep your loved ones healthy and active.

Chat with a Care Advisor at 016-2992188 or email at malaysia@homage.co. Homage is currently available in:

• Kuala Lumpur
• Most parts of Selangor
• Ipoh, Perak
• Kulim & Sungai Petani, Kedah
• Johor Bahru and the surrounding regions
• Kota Kinabalu
• Kuching

Conclusion

Homage is a personal healthcare solution that connects caregivers, nurses and therapists with seniors who need on-demand holistic home care in their own homes, allowing them to recover and age with grace, control and dignity. You can find Homage Malaysia on Facebook and on Instagram.