Posted by Our homes are part of us, and we are part of them. They are more than bricks and mortar. They are our harbours from the storms of everyday life. It is unsurprising, then, that live-in care is increasingly gaining in popularity. Let’s explore in more detail the reasons for our strong emotional links with our homes.
What Is Live-In Care?
Live-in care is where a care assistant lives with you for a period of time. It can be short term – to help you recover from an operation, for example – or long term. The great thing about live-in care is that there is no one size fits all.
The Emotional Attachments: A Tale from Dunster
Dunster is a picturesque village sitting on the edge of the Exmoor National Park. Go there on a Tuesday and you will hear the bells of the beautiful Priory church of St George ringing out the tune “Home Sweet Home”. You cannot but be reminded of the line in than song “There’s no place like home.”
Historical Roots of Our Attachment
Our species has always sought to make homes for ourselves, From the earliest cave shelters to modern-day houses, homes serve not just as physical protection but also emotional havens. The Roman philosopher, Pliny the Elder purportedly said that “home is where the heart is.” Our feelings for our homes are a complex mix of memories, experiences and emotions.
Literary Musings on Home
Literature offers us a rich seam to mine for homely musings. Charles Dickens may have had a rather bumpy personal life; however, in such novels as Great Expectations, we find memorable evocations of home as a place of warmth, love, and safety.
The Comfort of Familiarity
Familiarity does not always breed contempt; it also fosters comfort and security. As we age and our mental and physical faculties decline there is something reassuring about recognizing the grooves on our front door key or the creak in the third stair from the bottom. For people living with such conditions as dementia, the familiarity of home can help enhance well-being.
Our Communities: Our Extended Home
When we have lived somewhere for a while we make connections with people, places and institutions; we make connections that are social, formal and informal; we make connections that contribute to our well-being and contribute to the store of community well-being. Our community connections help combat the scourge of loneliness. There is a burgeoning body of evidence that strongly supports the potential of social prescribing for reducing loneliness. Social prescribing involves health professionals prescribing for people non-clinical activities that are typically available in the community.
Home Through Famous Eyes
Winston Churchill, in one of his many letters to his wife, Clementine, described his pangs of longing for his family home, Chartwell. It was the home that he cared for, where he loved to stay and where he longed to return when absent. Churchill was talking about a temporary absence. How much more intense is the pain of permanent absence.
Conclusion: Why Home Matters
Our homes are mirrors reflecting who we are, where we’ve been where we wish to be.
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