Senior Care: In-Home or in a Nursing Home?

November 22, 2017

Many seniors are not satisfied when placed in a nursing home. This is because they want to maintain their dignity by living independently in their own home for as long as possible. If your senior loved one needs any form of care and you're considering which type of senior care is best for him, then consider providing him in-home care services. This is the best type of senior care because it allows an individual to stay in a familiar surrounding while receiving the right care they need.

Often, price and care are great determining factors in choosing the right type of senior care. In home care services do not include charges on hospital or nursing home facilities and equipment so they are usually cheaper and more affordable. Nursing home's cost varies by state, but in general the expenses are often far above the median income of most seniors. Medicare can only cover a small portion of long-term care. For this reason, seniors who cannot afford the costs of a nursing home can start to consider about hiring in-home care services.

There are more benefits to receiving home care services than staying in nursing homes. For most seniors, the ability to keep certain level of independence can help improve their quality of life as well as their over-all well-being. Besides, not all elders need full-time assistance. Some are still mentally and physically fit to perform daily chores and they only need some help in other areas of their life, such as grocery, shopping, or going to doctor's appointments. These types of seniors may only need help for a few hours a day. But even those who need constant care may still find it more beneficial to stay in their own home than in a nursing home. Sick seniors who receive in home care services often receive more personalized care than those who stay in nursing homes, where staff has to attend to many people with different levels of needs.

As in-home senior care becomes more and more common, so are the options for you to choose from. The industry involved in providing senior care services has expanded to provide services aimed at enriching your senior loved one's life by means of a personalized home care services. There are at least three categories of senior care to choose from, namely, personal care, companionship, and home maker services; and the type you choose depends mainly on your senior loved one's needs.

Personal Care Services

The personal care services provided depend mainly on every individual's needs. This may include bathing, which is important in making a person feel well and more comfortable. Helping your loved one perform daily activities he needs to remain mentally and physically active is also part of this type of service. Meal planning and preparation for seniors requiring a special diet can also be provided by in-home care providers in coordination with the senior's health care professionals and family members.

Companion Services

In this fast-paced world, where we often don't even have time to say "Hi" or wave goodbye to our senior loved ones, life can be very solitary and lonely for them. This is where companion services play a vital role. Having individuals to provide companionship to your senior loved one can greatly enhance the quality of his life. This type of services is typically offered for only a couple of hours a day, or many days in a week depending on the needs of a senior. Services may include conversation, grocery shopping, running errands, medication reminders, and respite for family members.

Homemaker Services

Homemaker services are almost the same services offered by personal care and companion providers. Receiving this type of senior care in home often puts off the need for an individual to be transferred to a nursing facility or allows someone who has been hospitalized to return home much sooner.

Selecting a senior care in-home provider requires probing into the credentials of the individual if you're hiring directly or an agency's credentials, should you choose to hire a caregiver through them. Make sure that the service provider you hire is highly trained and qualified to provide dependable care to your loved one. If at all possible, do a background check of the person just to ensure that you're leaving your loved one in good hands. With the right senior care provider, your loved one can enjoy full freedom and satisfaction while living in familiar surroundings, which is what is lacking in nursing homes.