Which Is Better: Assisted Living or Home Care?
Most seniors reach a point in their lives when they realize they require constant support and care. When that time arrives, deciding what to do next can be a difficult task for seniors and their families. Assisted living and in-home care are sometimes the only two possibilities.
There are a number of factors to consider while picking between the two, including:
- How much-qualified staff monitoring is required?
- Where does the senior feel most at ease?
- How vital is it to be able to socialize?
When it comes to in-home care vs. assisted living, this article will help you determine which is best for you or a loved one.
What Is the Difference Between Assisted Living and In-Home Care?
In-home care or assisted living is required when you or a loved one can no longer care for themselves entirely. This ensures your health, safety, and well-being.
In-home care is exactly what it sounds like: care provided in the home of the elderly person. The degree of care provided is determined by the amount of care required. Bathing, dressing, toileting, and basic household duties such as running errands, cooking, and cleaning are usually included in the services given.
Depending on how much care the older adult need, families can opt for a live-in caregiver or a caregiver who comes in for a few hours a day a few times a week.
Assisted living, on the other hand, necessitates the senior’s relocation from their house to an assisted living complex. Seniors get assistance with daily responsibilities, round-the-clock personnel, prepared meals, and activities and interaction opportunities.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of In-Home Care?
The most obvious advantage of in-home care is that a senior may age in his or her own home. Furthermore, seniors and their families choose who offers in-home care to ensure that they are a suitable match.
In-home care also makes it easier to tailor a senior’s care to their specific need. Some seniors may be sociable and require transportation to community activities, while others may choose to stay at home and require extra assistance with household duties. Seniors and their families can collaborate with caregivers to tailor their care.
In-home care, on the other hand, can be highly expensive if the senior needs care and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An around-the-clock caregiver is expensive unless there are family members or loved ones ready to assist in care or cover when care is unavailable. Any improvements to the home that are required, such as wheelchair ramps or safety measures to avoid falls, are the duty of the owners of the family.
In-home care is also associated with increased social isolation. While the caregiver provides some company, if they are not there at all times, the older adult may feel isolated from the rest of the world. Isolation like this can lead to feelings of loneliness and sadness, both of which can lead to cognitive deterioration.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Assisted Living?
One of the most significant advantages of assisted living is the availability of care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is an important aspect to bear in mind for seniors who may want assistance in the middle of the night, or for loved ones who want peace of mind knowing their senior is constantly being cared for.
Seniors in assisted living complexes have plenty of opportunities to socialize with one another. However, for an older adult who is not highly sociable or interested in group activities, this might be a disadvantage.
Assisted living residents, on the other hand, have plenty of opportunities to avoid social isolation and loneliness, whether they participate in facility-sponsored events or just share a meal with friends in the common dining area.
In contrast to in-home care, older individuals and their loved ones have no say in who is employed and allocated to their care. Consistency in one-on-one care might be harder to maintain in assisted living since frequent staff changes are more usual.
This isn’t a decision you have to make on your own. Encircle Life is here to help you with decisions like this. You can call us to learn more about how we are helping seniors and their families.
