The concept of "aging in place" is becoming more popular and accessible among the elderly community. Having the ability to live out their years in the comfort of their home in contrast to the outdated "retirement home" model can be very appealing to elderly folks.
However some advanced aged persons do prefer to downsize and let go out the responsibilities that come with living alone or unassisted. Depending on the medical and social state of your loved ones each option has unique pros and cons. We took the liberty of laying some of those out for you here below!
- Cost
- The bottom line is that the more care a senior requires, the more expensive the care. However, it’s important to remember that in-home care can often outpace care facilities since providers often charge by the hour. Depending where a senior is on the spectrum of care, different options might make the most sense.
- Here is rough approximation of the pricing differences:
- Home Care Aide Cost: $20 per hour or $120 per day
- Assisted Living Cost: $160 per day, approximately $43,000 a year
- Assisted living facilities may cost more per day but that does not account for the cost of living associated with "aging in place". While retirement homes allow for diminished overhead and a fixed cost while home care can vary depending on the rate of care needed and other utility costs.
- Access to Care
- Home Care: In this case access to care is completely contingent on the necessity of assistance. For a majority of advanced age persons who choose to age in place their need for care is lower than most in assisted living facilities. Home care really caters to the needs of those who require non-medical assistance and or companionship. That being said there are options for full-time and part-time medical assistance at home as well. Some home care providers (such as Golden Age Care) offer 24/7 availability of professional care takers so that your loved one can be tended to at any point in the day or night.
- Assisted Living: The retirement or nursing home option is the more traditional approach to senior care. Allowing for 24/7 monitoring and on site professional attendance. This option caters more towards the immobile and frail who require a deeper level of assistance and often medical aide. For example, if a family member requires surgery they have the option to move in a rehabilitation center within the facility at no additional cost. This often allows for a more convenient recovery at a lower cost.
- Comfort
- Home Care: The majority of the appeal surrounding home care is based around the concept of aging in place. Allowing your loved one to remain in their homes until their final years. This constitutes no sacrifices and allows them to continue with business as usual. Caretakers can help provide a better quality of life in their homes while simultaneously promoting a healthier and happier lifestyle. For those of you who are dealing with family members that do not like change, this may be your best bet.
- Assisted Living: Many elderly people begin to feel intense loneliness in their late years, as such it is pivotal that they remain social. Assisted living facilities allow your loved ones to not only interact with people their own age but also under the guidance of professionals who will ensure the safety and happiness of your family member. There are services and amenities available to the community to help ease the transition into the home and facilitate a more comfortable stay.
At the end of the day no two cases are the same, each family has unique circumstances. Wether it may be budget related, health status or emotional state there are many internal discussions to have surrounding this topic.
Are you considering non-medical professional home care or a retirement home? Check out our comparison matrix below to see which option best suits your needs!