Assisted Living versus In-Home Care

Everyone reaches a point in their lives when they need a little help. Even before reaching that point for yourself, you may need to address the issue with a parent. Whether you're deciding for yourself or for a parent how to proceed with elderly care, having all the information is essential to making the best choice.

Care Options

To make the right decision for yourself or a loved one, it's important to know what the options are. There are several different categories of senior living, which differ in terms of how much care is offered, cost and location.

Retirement Communities

  • Living arrangements with the least amount of care. They usually offer a variety of amenities including social activities, exercise facilities, libraries and theaters. The level of care is generally restricted to meals, transportation and light housekeeping.

Assisted Living

  • These facilities are available for seniors who need a minimum level of care, which can include help with medications, bathing, mobility, eating, and mild cases of dementia, Alzheimer’s and other disorders.

Nursing Home

  • This type of residence is for patients who need the maximum amount of care. They provide 24-hour services and medical assistance. This may be an option for someone who needs temporary care for an illness.

Continuing Care Communities

  • Continuing care offers different levels of assistance and is generally a long-term setting.

In-Home Care

  • Provided in the patient’s home, this type of care can vary from housekeeping, to full medical services, and everything in between. Many elderly seniors wish to retain their independence and continue living in their own home. However, illness or chronic conditions requires in-home care support services to remain at home. Options like Sequoia Senior Solutions provide the in-home care services that seniors need to stay in the comfort of their own home.

When choosing between in-home care, and care at an outside facility, remember to:

  • Determine you or your parent’s care needs. Evaluate the abilities of the patients, what they're capable of doing for themselves and what's impossible without assistance.
  • Consider social needs and what level of activity the patient can handle and would like to have.
  • Weigh the pros and cons of both in-home care and assisted living programs.

The Pros of In-Home Health Care

There are many benefits to in-home health care as well as several drawbacks. Living in your own house, regardless of what assistance you require, can help you to retain a feeling of independence. Depression is a frequently overlooked issue in seniors. Many things can trigger depression, but a feeling of helplessness is often a part of it. Remaining a homeowner can potentially alleviate that feeling. Staying at home can also make you or a parent feel more comfortable. If you have a parent suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, staying in familiar surroundings may help them remain calm.

The Cons of In-Home Health Care

A huge drawback to in-home health care is the cost. Unless you have long-term care insurance, the cost of an in-home health care worker can run up to $20 dollars an hour. For someone who does not need round the clock care, hiring a health care worker could be an option. If you need assistance with tasks around the house, rather than medical assistance, a helper will be less expensive.

The Benefits of Assisted Living Care

The assisted living option also has both pros and cons. It can be a great relief to give up the home and all of the responsibility that goes with it. The maintenance and sometimes, financial burden, of a house can weigh on your mind. Just knowing that care is available can be very reassuring. The right assisted living facility will have the assistance you need, when you need it. Communities that offer different levels of care can provide a long term option for housing. You may enter the apartment needing little to no care, but over time you can receive more assistance as needed.

The cost of assisted living housing can potentially be well below that of in-home care. The average is just below $3,000 per month or $35,000 per year. The cost does vary with amount of care, so it could possibly be more than in-home care, depending on the situation. You should be aware that the rate will increase as level of service increases.

If you're considering the care options for a parent suffering from a disorder or disease such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, or Parkinson’s, both options are still possible. You should be able to find in-home care workers as well as assisted living facilities that can meet the needs of an ill patient.

The choice of where to spend your golden years or how to care for your aging parents is difficult. With the right information and a clear idea of your or your parent’s needs, you'll be able to select the best option with confidence.

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Publish Date: Mon, 02/14/2011 - 11:06
Categories: Assisted Living