How To Choose Between Assisted Living And In-Home Care
Making decisions about a parent’s care as they age is not easy. The array of options can be dizzying, and understanding the implications of each can be intimidating. Not to mention, the responsibility comes with all kinds of complicated emotions and can wear on us. The biggest such decision may be the choice between staying at home with care or moving to an Assisted Living Community. How do you know which is best?
Sorting through the pros and cons of each option can put enormous strain on the family. Everyone may not agree on a plan of action. Talking to an advisor who is an expert in senior care is an excellent first step. A professional third party can make a highly personal decision easier by providing more objective data and options. If you have questions about the next steps for your aging parent, reach out to Oasis Senior Advisors today by using our online form or calling 475.619.4123 or 914.356.1901. We’ve been in your shoes sourcing care for our own parents. If you call us, you will know we understand.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living communities allow seniors to live as independently as possible in an apartment or suite, with support delivered as needed for daily activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and mobility. Assisted living communities are, just that, communities with restaurants, movie rooms, activity centers, and other amenities that can be reached in a short trip to another floor, another part of the community, with easy access to social interaction.
In assisted living, there is a staff on duty round the clock to tend to the needs of residents as scheduled or – if something unforeseen pops up – as needed. There is also a nurse in the community for oversight on more clinical needs, and physicians who hold office hours on site.
What is Home Care?
Care in the home can provide many of the same services an Assisted Living can. If your loved one needs help with tasks like bathing or dressing, preparing meals, or running errands, a home care provider comes in a certain number of hours a day or week to assist. Some families opt to have a live-in caregiver if the need is great, family is not nearby or always available, and finances allow.
Pros and Cons of Assisted Living and In-Home Care
There is much to be said for both in-home care and assisted living. It is an entirely personal decision that must consider the wishes of the aging individual, the family’s bandwidth to meet needs, financial resources, and more. Such a major decision seems daunting and emotionally fraught, but with guidance and support from experts, your family can feel good about the outcome you settle upon.
Look at three basic areas: living environment, the provision of care, and finances to decide which option is best for you.
- Living environment
Assisted living:
Pro: Though not a familiar home, the upkeep and expenses of maintaining, heating, and repairing a home are off the table in favor of a monthly fee covering all the basics.
Con: The senior moves out of their home and into another setting. This can be disruptive and disorienting for some.
In-home care:
Pro: This option allows seniors to stay in their own homes, surrounded by familiar objects with a caregiver.
Con: They are in their familiar space, but the risk of social isolation and loneliness is great and the costs of maintaining the home remain.
- Provision of care
Assisted living:
Pros: The staff covers a range of specialties, from medical personnel to activity directors, kitchen staff, and aides to help with activities of daily living.
Cons: Care is not one on one.
In-home-care:
Pro: Care is delivered one-on-one.
Cons: An in-home caregiver is unlikely to possess all the skills and certifications that a full assisted living staff is likely to, so specialists may have to be brought in or visited when needed.
- Finances
Assisted living:
Pros: More affordable than other options if round-the-clock access to care is a priority. Also, there are fewer individual expenses, as most monthly living costs are wrapped up in the base fees.
Cons: Family members can’t take over care duties if finances run tight.
In-home care:
Pros: Costs can be lower if the number of hours required is low or if the caregiver’s skill level does not need to be high.
Cons: Costs can be higher than Assisted Living if 24/7 care is required – especially when the carrying costs of the current residence are factored in.
We Can Help
It’s a difficult decision, one not made any easier because it comes with all the emotions attached to concern for the well-being of an aging parent or other relative. Try to take a step back and look at the pros and cons of quality of life, delivery of care, and finances. The professional, compassionate help of a senior living advisor can help. Reach out to Oasis Senior Advisors today at 475.619.4123 or 914.356.1901 or by using our web form.
