Today’s older adult has a variety of support solutions and resources available to keep them healthy and feeling their best. However, too many options can often leave older adults and their family members feeling unsure about which step is the best one to take. For example, do you consider paying for in-home caregiver services in order to keep yourself or your loved one safe or do you begin exploring assisted living?
Choosing between home care and assisted living can be a difficult decision. We’re here to help by giving you a few questions and considerations that can help make your next step a bit clearer. Use these as guidance for yourself or for your loved one.
What type of assistance do I need?
The first step in determining which option, home care or assisted living, is best for you is determining what type of assistance you need to stay healthy, safe, and comfortable. Assisted living communities provide personalized support from caregivers available around the clock. Assistance includes support with any activity of daily living, such as bathing, grooming, medication management, or mobility. Nurses are also available onsite to assist with physician communication, and many assisted living communities feature onsite outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Home care agencies differ based on the type of support they are allowed to give. Nonmedical home care agencies can provide companionship and personal care assistance while medical agencies can give prescribed support from certified professionals.
Not sure what type of assistance you need? Take time to jot down tasks you wish you had help with throughout the course of one day or one week.
How often do I need assistance throughout the week?
Perhaps one of the biggest differentiators between assisted living and home care is when you have access to assistance. Assisted living communities have caregivers and other team members on staff 24 hours per day. This means if there is an emergency in the middle of the night, someone is there to assist.
In contrast, home care services are scheduled. Clients might request assistance two hours per week or more. As the hours on the contract increase, so does the price. For someone who needs around-the-clock care or oversight, the monthly bill can be quite expensive.
Not sure how often you need assistance in order to stay safe? Talk with your physician to get a recommendation.
Do I feel lonely throughout the day?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 25% of all adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated. This isolation and feelings of loneliness are linked to serious health outcomes including depression, anxiety, heart disease, and premature death.
If you or your loved one are feeling lonely or are connecting with friends less than once every few days, they are missing the social component of their overall wellness. Assisted living communities are designed to be busy hubs of activity and friendship. Not only do residents have the opportunity to connect daily with their caregivers, they also are interacting with neighbors and creating friendships over shared meals and experiences.
Someone who is socially isolated and chooses in-home care does benefit from connecting with their caregiver during scheduled hours. However, they miss out on the robust social opportunities available in an assisted living community.
Am I eating nutritious foods daily?
Living at home alone can make planning and preparing three meals per day seem like an unrealistic task. In-home care services can include grocery shopping and meal preparation, which can help you or your loved one eat healthy foods.
Assisted living communities provide chef-prepared meals to residents three times daily. Further, meals are served in a social dining room setting. Residents are offered choice and chefs often work with residents to re-create family favorites and other comforting classics.
Can I get myself to and from places around town independently?
If you or your loved one can no longer drive, scheduling transportation to get to the grocery store, bank, or physician’s office, can take a lot of time and patience. Fortunately, both home care and assisted living can provide this support.
In-home care services often include transportation. This means that the caregiver would drive you to and from your destination. Sometimes the caregiver will accompany you to the appointment or activity once you are there, though that service would be billed hourly.
An assisted living community provides transportation to residents. Communities typically offer excursions to local spots for dinner, to explore a museum, or to go grocery shopping. Transportation services also often include taking residents to and from physician appointments.
What does my future look like?
Finally, consider what the future looks like for you or your loved one. Chronic conditions like Parkinson’s disease, dementia, or COPD will only progress over time, leaving you or your loved one requiring additional personalized assistance. Choosing assisted living sooner than later can not only enhance independence and quality of life, but can also give your loved one the opportunity to be an active part of choosing their home.
At Ciel Senior Living communities, we specialize in providing exceptional senior living to every resident who calls our communities home. Tour an assisted living community near you to experience the difference for yourself. We are happy to schedule a personalized tour so that you can ask questions and learn more about our community.
