Today, seniors have a variety of options for care as they age. Instead of assuming that they need to go into a care facility, more options are available for people to age in place. Still, there are differences in what you can expect for levels of care depending on the options. Let’s discuss the differences and how both contribute to the quality of life for your senior loved ones.

Location Where Services Are Provided

Many seniors would love to stay in their homes for as long as possible. They have memories in that home, plus the location is likely close to everything they enjoy doing, their doctors, and their favorite activities. In-home care for seniors is provided at their house, allowing them to maintain independence without having to move. The services offered include personal needs care, meals, and social opportunities, but they are provided in the comfort of their home.

On the other hand, senior assisted living is delivered in a group home setting. This means that your loved one needs to move into a new location to have services provided. The services offered include personal needs care, meals, social opportunities, and housing in an apartment-style environment.

Specialization of Services

Assisted living facilities are designed to provide 24-hour personal assistance while offering access to amenities, activities, and services that foster a level of independence for seniors. When your loved one opts for in-home care, they can receive specialized services, thus fostering independence.

In-home care can include:

• Licensed medical professional care
• Nonmedical paraprofessional care
• Dementia home care
• Alzheimer’s home care

That being said, there are also costs to be considered. Senior assisted living typically has a higher cost per month than in-home care services. They can average around $4,500 per month, while in-home care can average around $3,800 per month. However, those costs can vary based on where you live, the amount of assistance needed, and other expenses. Recognize that senior assisted living costs typically cover rooming and core services. In-home care simply covers services provided by various aides and medical professionals. You still have the typical housing costs associated with utilities, property taxes, mortgage payments, and insurance.

Keep in mind that both instances will require private pay since these services have limited coverage under Medicaid and Medicare. How much you pay for in-home care depends on insurance, veteran’s benefits, services, and location. You can invest in long-term care insurance or tap into savings to offset these costs.

When family members can step into the caregiver role, they can help mitigate the costs associated with in-home care. At Happy Hands, we offer multiple services for in-home care, allowing your family to provide the right level of senior care in the comfort of your loved one’s home.