Home Care vs. Nursing Home
Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by Rachel
What is the Right Option for Seniors?
Do you have an elderly loved one? How do you know what is right for them? Should you opt for a nursing home or home care services? Making the right decision can be difficult. It is therefore important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each care setting before you decide which one will suit the needs of your loved one. This article will discuss the differences between a nursing home and home care and what to consider when looking for the right option for seniors. Happy reading.
What to Expect from In-Home Care?
Looking to age within the comfort of your home? Well, then you can consider home care services. Although, this option can very expensive, especially for seniors in need of 24/7 care. Most beneficiaries, however, receive up to 44 hours of care services per week. If you opt for home care, then the services will be brought to you and you don’t live under any kind of rules or routine. You maintain your routines. You can hire homemakers and health aides who can stay as long as you need. They can assist with the activities of daily living, including hygiene, transportation, medication support, housekeeping, and meal preparation. They also provide companion care so that you don’t feel lonely in your own home. You have health care professionals, including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and doctors come to your home and provide the services you need. They can provide services, including wound care, feeding tubes, catheters, administration of medication, injections, among others. Suffering from Dementia? You can have someone care for you but you must be at a mild and not chronic stage of the disease. Home care provides seniors with the freedom of being in their familiar place. Most seniors experience a greater quality of life within their homes than in nursing homes. Considering in-home care, then you have to decide whether you want to involve an agency or simply hire a private caregiver.
What to Expect from Nursing Home?
Let’s face the truth your loved one can receive some basic care services that may not be available in in-home care. Nursing homes will provide seniors with personal care needs and medical care services are available whenever needed. Whether you need your meal prepared, laundry is done, or assistance with bathing, or grooming, all the services providers are there 24/7. They are employed to care for the seniors residing in nursing homes. In this care setting, your loved one will not have mobility issues since they will be living within the facility. This makes it the best option for elderly persons who cannot receive 24/7 health care from their homes. The level of safety in a nursing home is higher than in-home care because all the services you may need are there. You may have to make a call or hire someone to provide the services you need in your home. What if you can’t get access to services when you need them the most? Your life or that of your loved one will be at stake here. Also, taking your loved one into a nursing home relieves you from caregiver stress if you are the one in charge of type senior. Expect that in a nursing home, your loved one will not experience the convenience and comfort of having their family members around. They will be confined within the facility. This can lead to stress and poor quality of life. Nursing homes provide seniors with other amenities, such as entertainment and outing for shopping with transportation services. Are you suffering from chronic health conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease? Well, there are advanced memory care services for senior patients having such problems. Services for elderly persons with mobility issues and serious injuries are also available.
The Cost of Care in Home Care vs. Nursing Home Health Care
In both settings, the cost of care services depends on your location, the level of need, and the type of care you need. The average cost of care varies among states, usually depending on the cost of living in your region. For home care, the costs will depend on the type of caregiver you are looking for, including the desired capabilities and qualifications. Depending on the number of hours of in-home health care per week you require, the pay is usually $4,920 per month. That is if you hire a non-medical paraprofessional with the general qualities of housekeeping and companionship. If you are planning to go for skilled health care professionals, the cost will be $6,600 per month. Want to work with a caregiver agency? Then get prepared to add between 10% to 15% to the normal service fees. How about the cost of a nursing home? The monthly care charges in a nursing home range from $6,844 to $7,698, depending on whether you are going to occupy a private or semi-private room. You will separately cover for costs of advanced memory care, that is, if you are suffering from Dementia or any other chronic illness. This means that a nursing home will cost you more. Opting for home care will help you save more money and will also give your loved one enjoy the company of friends and family.
What is the Right Option for Seniors?
Well, you have to consider some factors before deciding which health care is suitable for your loved one:
- What is their health status? Are they suffering from a mild or chronic health condition?
- What are their personal preferences? Do they want to receive health care services at the comfort of their homes or they prefer moving into a nursing home?
- What type and level of professional care do they need?
- The available support system. Are there family and friends nearby? Can they source a caregiver from their family?
- Is there any rental agreement in force?
- Are there any options for accommodation?
- How independent is the senior?
- What is the family’s financial situation?
It is important to go through all these factors and depending on your answers, you can make the right choice on the best option.
