Families begin to evaluate care options when constant supervision and access to medical care becomes necessary for their elderly loved ones. Benefits like these are available through either live-in / 24-hour home care or a nursing home. Arriving at the best decision involves comparing the two options.
The majority of seniors prefer to age in place. The familiar setting of home offers a sense of security that is not found anywhere else. Being surrounded by family members, close friends and treasured mementos gathered over a lifetime is the ideal way to live for many seniors.
Still, not all seniors are in fierce opposition to moving into a nursing home. Such facilities are staffed 24 hours a day, meaning seniors can summon medical help with the touch of a button. Plus, given the large number of senior residents, opportunities to socialize are just outside their door.
Despite that fact that some seniors find comfort in perks found in nursing homes, other individuals prefer to age in the privacy of home. In such cases, live-in care or 24-hour home care are viable solutions. A professional caregiver monitors the well-being of the care recipient in the latter’s home.
Numerous additional considerations weigh in heavily when deciding between in-home care and nursing home care. These factors include the level of care desired, the price of care for each option and what types of services can be expected from either in-home care or nursing home care.
1. Consider Social Factors
When social isolation and loneliness plague seniors who live at home, the companionship provided by in-home caregivers is invaluable. Strong relationships may be developed with live-in caregivers. The structure of live-in care services offers the chance for the senior and care provider to form trusting bonds.
Live-in caregivers work in shifts, with a maximum of two caregivers tending to the care needs of the elderly individual each week. Given the limited number of caregivers, the senior gets to know these professionals. Familiarity and the resulting comfort are known to increase a senior’s well-being.
Nursing homes, too, are filled with opportunities to socially connect. Nursing home staff organize afternoon group games, exercise sessions and outings for its residents. Gregarious seniors will find the unending social stimulation in a nursing home setting to be satisfying.
2. Evaluate Level of Care Required
Some seniors may require full-time support around the home. In such cases, a live-in caregiver is ideal. The professional caregiver will provide supervision and will assist with the activities of daily living, such as medication reminders, meal preparation and discreet help with bathing and toileting.
Older individuals who require extensive medical care also have the option to remain at home. The help provided by a team of 24-hour caregivers is appropriate in such scenarios. Two caregivers rotate 12-hour shifts daily, providing a continual level of medical care to the senior.
Ongoing medical care is a predominant draw in nursing home facilities. When advanced medical care is required, the immediate access to healthcare in nursing home settings becomes critical. Plus, staff assist with mobility issues, therapies and all the activities of daily living on a continual basis.
3. Assess Dementia Care Needs
The advantage of in-home care is that even chronic conditions receive skilled care. In-home dementia care providers are trained and experienced in identifying symptoms of dementia. Their services are essential to helping affected individuals calm down when trapped in angry outbursts, for instance.
Memory care facilities are optimal living situations for elderly individuals who live with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. As the brain disease progresses, the level of care required increases. Advanced memory care services are an integral part of certain nursing home programs.
4. Compare Costs
If the level of care needed is low and the caregiver possesses limited professional qualifications, live-in care is by far the most affordable form of senior care, especially in comparison to nursing home care. Monthly live-in care costs (for 44 hours of service per week) average $4000.
Variables that significantly affect the cost of live-in care include whether or not skilled care is hired. For instance, a registered nurse will summon a higher price per day (on average $220) than a home health aide (on average $164) who provides basic assistance with the activities of daily living.
Electing 24-hour care can be a financial burden, given its high price tag ($150 to $350 per day). But, 24-hour care is intended to be short in duration. Comparable to 24-hour care costs are nursing home care costs. Expect monthly nursing home charges to average $7000 for full-time care.
In studies, statistics show that seniors who receive care at home experience greater happiness and an improved quality of life. An even more marked fact is that seniors who opt for in-home care have 50 percent fewer doctors’ visits each year.
The benefits of in-home care are remarkable. Especially now, home care agencies that focus on improving the quality of life for senior citizens are growing in number and range of services. One such elder care agency is Assisting Hands Home Care.
As a reputable senior care provider, we offer comprehensive home care services geared toward assisting the elderly. Flexible programs include 24-hour home care and live-in care. Our live-in and 24-hour caregivers are available onsite to assist your loved one from the moment of waking up until bedtime and throughout the night, as needed.
Each day, our live-in and 24-hour caregivers support the senior with all aspects of the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing and transportation. Your loved one will be in good company, as our compassionate caregivers are also excellent companion care providers.
Each caregiver from Assisting Hands Home Care is licensed, bonded and insured so that families have maximum peace of mind. When the senior in your life would benefit from in-home support, look no further than the live-in or 24-hour care options from Assisting Hands Home Care. We serve the families living in Glendale Heights, Lombard, Villa Park, Elmhurst, Bensenville, Itasca, IL and surrounding areas of Northeast DuPage County with dedication.
