At some point, most people have to give some thought to whether in-home care or senior housing is the preferable option. This decision is sometimes made directly by a senior that wants to choose his or her own course, or it can be made by a relative or other loved one for an aging family member. Either way, it is best to do some research about each option to determine whether in-home care or senior housing is the best option for your particular needs so that when the time comes, a well informed decision can be made.
In order to decide whether in-home care or senior housing will best meet a senior’s particular needs, you first need to understand a bit about each option, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each. In order to do that, we will provide you with a run-down of different options to help make your decision about choosing in-home care or senior housing a bit easier.
Choices Abound For In-Home Care Or Senior Housing
Whether you decide that in-home care is your preferred option or you think that some form of senior housing is a better alternative, realize that you have a number of choices to consider in order to best meet your needs or those of a loved one. In-home care can take the form of a neighbor, companion, personal assistant, trained caregiver, or skilled nursing professional. You can receive in-home care for just a short time each day or if needed, round the clock care can be provided. The level of care can include light household maintenance, running errands, basic personal tasks or more involved medical assistance. Senior housing options can also differ depending on your needs and preferences and can include independent retirement communities, continuing care communities, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities. Each senior housing option offers different levels of care. So, whether you opt for in-home care or senior housing, you will still be left with a number of options to consider.
Determining Benefits Of In-Home Care Or Senior Housing
In-home care options offer you the flexibility of selecting care only when you need it and choosing a caregiver to offer only the types of assistance you need. That fact can make this a more affordable option if you do not require extensive coverage or a skilled nursing professional, and some assistance may even be covered by insurance. It also allows you to remain in the comfort of your own home. Senior housing options can also provide flexibility in the amount of assistance offered. Although choosing one of these options requires you to move, it can offer a more social setting and an environment that is geared more specifically to the needs and interests of seniors. Some forms of senior housing offer very specialized care, such as for Alzheimer’s or dementia, that cannot easily be offered elsewhere.
Assessing Drawbacks of In-Home Care Or Senior Housing
Just as there are benefits to both types of senior care options, there are also drawbacks to each type as well. In-home care can get expensive if a senior requires extensive care or skilled nursing care which must be paid in addition to maintaining the individual’s home (although in some cases it is a less expensive option to senior housing). Since a person remains in their own home all day and their caregiver is usually not a peer but a younger person, peer interaction and social stimulation can be limited. This can lead to feelings of isolation or depression. Senior housing drawbacks can also include cost, which can get rather prohibitive in some cases. Another issue is that a senior may have to move from one type of facility to another as needs progress, unless they are in a continuing care community. Continuing care communities provide the most flexibility to allow for a transition from independent living to assisted living or a nursing home facility, but may require membership fees and pricey maintenance fees. In all options, the quality of care received can be anything from terrible to excellent, although in-home caregivers can usually be more easily replaced if not providing acceptable levels of care and they can also be counted on to provide more one on one care than senior housing facilities.
In-Home and Senior Housing Options Defined
Here are some options to consider for in-home care or senior housing:
In-Home Care:
• Companion – someone that comes to your home to keep you company for a specified time and may perform some light housekeeping or personal tasks for you while there. This can be a neighbor, friend or hired professional.
• Home maintenance professional – a person or company that handles only specific home maintenance tasks, such as yard work, cleaning, snow removal, etc. to make it easier for a senior to maintain their home.
• Home health aide – an individual that is trained to assist with personal care duties, such as bathing, dressing, feeding and medication management, and may also handle light housekeeping duties such as cooking and cleaning.
• Skilled nursing professional – trained nurses that are equipped with the expertise to handle medical issues, administer medication and monitor medical conditions. Nurses may come for periodic visits in addition to having another type of in-home caregiver, or for those in need of more serious care, they can offer round-the-clock in-home care.
Senior Housing:
• Retirement Community – independent housing options (apartments, condos or single family homes) with minimum age restrictions for entrance. Usually offers a variety of social activities and amenities and security. Some may offer optional dining options. No medical assistance is offered.
• Continuing Care Community – offer a variety of senior housing options, including independent living housing, assisted living housing and nursing home facilities. This allows an individual or couple to stay within the same community but easily move to the next stage of care when necessary.
• Assisted Living Facility – allow individuals to live in their own room or apartment but have access to some personal care. Most facilities provide meals for seniors, social activities and housekeeping services and can provide help with bathing and dressing, medication management and more for additional fees.
• Nursing Home – provide the highest level of nursing or medical care. Individuals have access to round the clock care, rehabilitation and other services.
