When your elderly loved one requires assistance with daily activities, you need to decide where and how he or she will receive care. Most seniors want to receive care at home instead of moving into assisted living facilities. Although both options provide benefits, the services are different. Here are some of the differences between home care and assisted living.
Familiar Surroundings
The familiarity of home can be a huge positive factor in a senior’s life. Older adults experience a variety of changes as they age, but remaining at home gives them some control over their lives, and they’re surrounded by familiar people, sounds, and objects rather than moving into new places with less space. In some cases, seniors can stave off various health issues just by being able to continue living at home. They may also be able to recover faster when given the opportunity to receive care at home, surrounded by their personal belongings and familiar people.
Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional homecare seniors can trust and rely on.
One-on-One Care
Seniors share caregivers in assisted living facilities, but they receive individualized care at home. If your loved one chooses to receive care at home, he or she will have someone to help with daily tasks and activities. Your loved one can also receive home care around the clock if needed, and he or she doesn’t have to share a caregiver with other seniors. Instead, your loved one will have the caregiver’s undivided attention, which could reduce the risk of accidents. The caregiver will focus on your loved one’s needs the entire time he or she is inside the home.
Privacy
Seniors don’t need to share amenities or space with other individuals when they receive care at home. If privacy is a big concern for your loved one, it may be best to choose home care. Your loved one will be free to move around the house as he or she likes without having a lot of rules and boundaries. Your loved one doesn’t have to worry about people coming in and out of the home, whereas in assisted living facilities, visits from other seniors’ family members, doctors, and guests are commonplace. You can have more peace of mind knowing an in-home caregiver is there to provide your loved one with companionship.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Waterloo seniors can depend on.
Cost of Care
If your loved one doesn’t require around-the-clock care, he or she doesn’t have to pay for it with home care. Your loved one will only pay for the services he or she needs. For example, if your loved one only needs help with household chores and meal prep, a home caregiver can come in and help with those tasks. Once the tasks are complete, the caregiver will leave. Hourly care is an affordable option for seniors who can’t pay for constant care. With assisted living, seniors are typically charged a flat rate, whether they utilize all the services being offered or not. If your loved one’s care needs change over time, home care allows you to make scheduling adjustments on an as-needed basis.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading Waterloo senior home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us at (519) 954-2111 today.