What Are the Differences Between Senior In-Home Care and an Assisted Living Facility?

It is important to know the differences between senior in-home care and assisted living facilities.

If you or your aging loved one is seeking professional care, it is imperative to do research on the options available to you. As you decide on a care plan, you will find what option works best for your family and your needs.

What is Senior Home Care?

In-home care focuses on bringing a professional and highly skilled caregiver directly to you or your loved one. When you hire an in-home caregiver, he or she will come directly to your home to assist you with daily tasks such as meal preparation, medication reminders, personal care and companionship. In-home care focuses on allowing the senior to stay in the comfort of their own home, while getting the help that they both need and deserve.

Senior in-home care allows you or your loved one to keep their independence and maintain their freedom by staying in a familiar environment.

Although they will remain in the same place, their care plan will change tremendously with the help of an in-home caregiver. He or she will work hard to make sure you or your loved one has a high quality of life and is thriving in all aspects. Individuals that choose in-home care often do so to remain in the comfort of their own home, where there are memories to last a lifetime.

What is an Assisted Living Facility?

Assisted Living Facilities are the most well-known option for aging individuals that need assistance and long-term care. An assisted living facility can also be known as a senior home or a senior living facility. In these facilities, residents are all elderly individuals that need extra care and assistance in their daily activities. Assisted Living Facilities offer meals, housekeeping, living accommodations and social interaction with individuals of the same age.

Assisted Living Facilities are often positioned a community for individuals that are all in the same stage of life, often known as the “golden years.” During this transition, seniors will move out of their home and into the facility, where the care will take place. The Assisted Living Facility allows family to visit during certain hours, where the senior has freedom to socialize to their liking.

What supportive services do both Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities Cover?

Both In-Home Care and Living Facilities offer supportive services for seniors that allows them to enjoy their “golden years” in a safe environment. Both options will provide light housekeeping, meal preparation, supervision and security. Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities will both provide you or your senior loved one the resources needed to enjoy daily activities such as socialization, exercise and hobbies.

The beauty of Senior Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities is that both options will ensure that your loved one is taken care of, abiding by their prescribed care plan and is being the healthiest version of themselves.

Services will vary based on facilities and will be dependent on the level of care that you choose for both services.

What are the average costs differences between Senior Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities?

The cost differences between Senior In-Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities will vary depending on the facility that you or your loved one decides upon and the level of care you decide on. Some Assisted Living Facilities will give you or your loved one a base rate and have an ala carte approach to added on services. On the other hand, some Senior In-Home Care companies will give you an hourly minimum with a minimum rate requirement. Costs will vary based on care needs as well as company and facilities policies.
It is advisable for you to do research on the cost of both services and juxtapose the cost with the benefits of both. We encourage you to have conversations with both service providers about the costs that could be hidden, hourly requirements and their hourly rates. By asking those questions, you can get a clear idea of which option is the best care plan for your money.

What are the time differences between the two? Are they both 24 hours a day?

An Assisted Living Facility will have someone on staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They will likely have a staff member that will be working overnight in case some resident needs something from them or assistance. That is factored into the cost of the Assisted Living Facility, as most of them are secured overnight so you can have peace of mind that your loved one is safe at night.

In-Home Care might work differently depending on which state you reside in. California law prohibits 24-hour shifts, so two 12-hour shifts are the perfect solution. By bringing in some fresh caregiver every 12 hours, you can ensure that you are not paying someone to sleep on the clock, as they will come rested, recharged and ready for their shift. Someone will be awake, and alert in case your loved one needs anything.

As you can see, Senior In-Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities have their differences and their similarities. In senior care, it is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. We encourage you to do your research about the options that are available to you, which solution fits your needs best and the cost associated with the options. You and your loved ones may prefer staying in their home, making In-Home Care the perfect option. However, if your loved one wants to leave their home, consider an Assisted Living Facility. We hope that you will find the right solution for you and your family.