For families seeking senior care for a loved one, there are more choices these days than there were in the past. One of the few options for their parents or grandparents was to move into a nursing home, but now in-home care and residential community care have provided more possibilities.
One style of care isn’t better than the other; what works for one situation won’t work for another.
Here are the differences between home care and community care that can help you make the right decision for your family.
Using home care services has several advantages over moving into a community care center.
- Staying in a familiar environment makes seniors feel more comfortable and secure. They can have their furniture and their belongings exactly where they want them. It’s easy to add a caregiver into an established household, rather than downsize and move.
- Clients can maintain their privacy, as well as their normal routines. They can stay in their bedrooms or move into other rooms as they wish. If they don’t feel like socializing, that’s fine. They can continue their usual sleep and meal schedules instead of having to adjust to set mealtimes.
- Staying in their own home means it’s easy to keep in contact with family and friends. There’s no need to travel to an unfamiliar facility or worry about squeezing all the family into a small room during visiting hours.
- In home care offers more personalized, one on one care. There is only one caregiver for the client, instead of several residents in a home and a staff to care for them. This might not be a concern if the client needs only minimal help around the house, but it may be important if the client has mobility issues.
- It’s also more cost effective. Home based care is usually less expensive than a community care center, especially if the home is already paid off and other living expenses are minimal.
Residential community care facilities have their own advantages over home-based care services.
These centers provide more social interaction and companionship opportunities than home based care. Centers vary in size, but even the smallest facilities have a few dozen residents, so there are plenty of opportunities to make friends and socialize.
These facilities also have a larger variety of social, physical, and educational activities than may be available to individuals on their own. They usually hold exercise classes, lectures, game nights, concerts, and other fun events that aren’t available to people who live on their own.
Knowing a loved one is somewhere where people are awake and alert at all times in case of emergency provides peace of mind for family members, especially if they don’t live nearby. Everyone has heard the horror stories of someone who has fallen or even been dead for days in their home before they were found; this won’t happen in a community care facility.
When a senior family member lives in a community care facility, there’s no need to worry about maintaining the house and property. Someone else takes care of lawn maintenance, snow removal, roof repair, appliances, and other homeowner concerns. Juggling the demands of two households is bad enough for families who live close by; trying to find contractors to handle these concerns long distance can be a nightmare.
Both types of care have benefits, so review your particular situation carefully before making the decision that’s best for your loved one and your family. There’s no one right answer for everyone, but the variety of available choices today ensures that everyone can find the answer that’s right for them.
When you need quality in home care services in Naperville, IL, call the caring professionals at Assisting Hands Home Care. We provide a wide range of short- and long-term services, from senior and respite care to post-surgical and Alzheimer’s care.
Our Care Coordinators will work with you to assess your loved one’s needs and locate community elder care services and education that will enhance their quality of life and ensure they stay safe and secure in the privacy of their home.