With the increased longevity in our society, many aging family members are choosing to stay at home for as long as possible. But with age, there comes a need for more care and assistance. Some people hire a caregiver to help them around the house or even move into an assisted living community. Others prefer to keep their independence but hire a professional home health aide or companion who can provide companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and errands.
Each has its benefits, but they also have distinct drawbacks. Home health care is generally less expensive than assisted living, but it has more responsibilities for aging adults and their family members. Additionally, home health care and assisted living for seniors can be combined to create a hybrid solution that offers the best features from both types of senior living.
Which option is right for you?
Assisted Living
Assisted living provides a higher level of care than independent living but less than nursing homes. Assisted living communities have team members trained to assist with activities of daily living and other needs that may arise. These individuals can help with things like bathing or dressing, preparing meals, taking medications, or helping patients use the restroom. Assisted living is also known as “assisted-living facilities” or ALFs.
These types of senior housing communities are generally geared toward people who want more care than they would receive in an independent living community (ILC). On the other hand, they do not provide 24-hour medical supervision like a nursing home does. This makes them a good choice for aging adults who need assistance but don’t require constant medical attention throughout the day and night.
In-Home Care
In-home care is a great option for aging adults who want to stay at home, but need assistance with daily tasks. And it’s not just for the elderly: in-home care can help people recover from surgery or illness or need physical therapy after an injury.
In-home services are provided by nurses, therapists, and other professionals who set up shop in your home for a few hours each day. You can choose from a variety of professionals depending on your needs—in addition to nurses and therapists, some caregivers specialize in cooking meals or doing housework.
Because they’re based in your home, these professionals can respond quickly if you need medical attention at night or on weekends (or even just go out). They’ll also check in regularly with family members, so everyone knows what’s going on.
Other Factors To Consider
There are a number of other factors to consider when making your decision. These include:
- The cost of living in the area. The cost of assisted living communities varies significantly by region, so it’s important to research local pricing before deciding on one.
- The availability of home health care services in your area. You’ll want to ensure that there are enough providers nearby with experience with aging family members and their specific needs. If not, you may need to hire someone from out-of-state or even out-of-country (though this might get costly).
- The price tag for each type of senior living arrangement you’re considering—assisted living vs. home health care vs. independent living vs. shared housing—and whether all or only some aspects of each level will be covered by your insurance provider (if applicable). For example, if you want transportation included as part of assisted living but not independent housing, those costs will differ significantly between these two formats.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the differences between home care and assisted living options for seniors. It can be challenging to decide which one is right for you, but it’s important to remember that many factors exist. The most important thing is that whatever choice you make should feel like the best fit for your needs and lifestyle.
