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Navigating the best care options for an elderly loved one can be very confusing and overwhelming. There are so many variations of care, and it can be hard to know what’s best for your situation. Both assisted living and in-home care are common options for an aging family member that you should consider. To help simplify this complex decision, Senior Check-In has outlined the key differences of assisted living and in-home care.

So what’s the difference?

The main difference between assisted living and in-home care is the location that your loved one would be staying. If you choose assisted living, they will be living in facility housing to ensure they are cared for around the clock. In-home options offer the ability for your family member to stay in their own home and have caretakers come to them. The level of assistance for in-home care can greatly range as there are part-time to full-time options.

Assessing Assisted Living

It may seem daunting to put your loved one in assisted living provided housing, but if you choose the right provider, it can be quite homey and comfortable. If you are strongly considering this option, you should tour multiple facilities and make sure you get a clear understanding of what the day-to-day life of your loved one will look like, as it can vary greatly from facility to facility.

Assessing Assisted Living

It may seem daunting to put your loved one in assisted living provided housing, but if you choose the right provider, it can be quite homey and comfortable. If you are strongly considering this option, you should tour multiple facilities and make sure you get a clear understanding of what the day-to-day life of your loved one will look like, as it can vary greatly from facility to facility.

Pros of Assisted Living

There are many positives that can come from staying in an assisted living facility for seniors that can’t live independently anymore. For one, health care services, housekeeping, and meal services are all in the same location, so you can ensure that any potential issues are taken care of promptly at well-run facilities. Another great thing about assisted living is that there are many social activities between the residents, so your loved one can make friends and have companionship even when you can’t pop over for a visit.

Cons of Assisted Living

Choosing assisted living does mean you are giving up some of the transparency into your elderly family member’s care. You won’t always fully know how they are being treated or what their daily routine looks like, since you aren’t able to be there whenever you would like. Additionally, many seniors don’t want to leave their homes, so convincing your loved one that they need to move to a facility can be a painful and contentious conversation.

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Investing in In-Home Care

There’s a lot to be said about getting to stay in your own home as you age, even when your healthcare needs increase. According to AARP, three out of four adults age 50 and older would prefer to age at home than have to relocate.

Pros of In-Home Care

Choosing in-home care comes with the benefit of peace of mind and more involvement with your loved one’s well being. By being selective on who you choose to help care for your loved one, you can be more confident that they are getting good care from someone that they feel comfortable around. In-home care is also scalable over time, meaning you can start with part-time care to help with meal preparation and housekeeping, and move up to full-time care that includes bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, and medication administration. So, on top of your loved one getting to stay in their own home, they can ease gradually into the idea of caregivers coming in and out of their space and take time embracing the idea that they aren’t as independent as they used to be.

Cons of In-Home Care

Just like Assisted Living, In-home care can be very expensive depending on your needs. You can sometimes get some of the costs covered by Medicare or private insurance, but you should evaluate what is affordable for your family. Another potential con is that it could take your loved one a bit to open up to the idea of a new person being in their home, but they will probably embrace it over time, as it offers companionship in its own way.

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Here at Senior Check-In, we know how hard it is to make a decision on the care for your elderly loved one. It’s difficult to see their independence dwindle as they age, and making the right choice can put a lot of pressure on you. We are always here to talk through what the best option for your family may be.

Senior Check-In 

This information was provided by Senior Check-In in Indiana. Senior Check-In offers home care services including memory care, respite care, and companion care.

Interested in learning more about Senior Check-In? Contact us online, or call at (855) 420-1200.