At what point can your parent or spouse no longer live safely at home without a caregiver?

Making the decision about hiring an in-home care service or moving a senior to an assisted living center is an emotional one. We all want the dignity of being able to stay at home, but there are plenty of logistical and practical factors to consider that might make an assisted living center a better choice.

This article is designed to help you make an informed choice. We outline when you need to find additional care for a senior, the pros and cons of in-home care vs assisted living, and tips to help you decide the best choice.

When Should You Consider Additional Care?

There are lots of potential reasons you are thinking of finding additional care for a senior in your life. It might be that they had a bad accident in the home, or that they have been forgetting to take their medication. Or maybe you just feel that they are isolated, or beginning to get overwhelmed with day to day tasks.

If you are on the fence about finding additional care for this person, it helps to break down the weekly tasks and necessities that they require on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Ask yourself how much of those items they can still realistically do themselves, and also how much help your family and their friends could realistically provide.

If there are considerable gaps in the amount that they can take care of themselves, then it is time to begin considering either in-home care or assisted living.

Pros and Cons of In-Home Care

In-Home care provides the senior with the ability to avoid the more impersonal atmosphere of assisted living. If the senior can still manage many of their regular necessities on their own, the services provided by an in-home caregiver can be tailored to those specific needs on a per-hour basis.

Advantages of In-Home Care

• The senior is allowed the dignity of remaining in the home
• Care will be customized to the needs of the senior
• In-home care can be flexible in frequency and price depending on the needs of the senior
• You can have a relationship with one caregiver only for consistency
• A caregiver can assist with transportation to seniors day programs

Disadvantages of In-Home Care

• Cost is high if around the clock care is needed
• On top of the cost of the caregiver, there are still groceries, toiletries and household cleaning supplies to buy
• You may need to spend money on home accessibility features for the senior to remain safely
• Potential that no one will be around during a medical emergency or in the event of a fall
• Lacks the more social element of an assisted living center

Pros and Cons of Assisted Living

Assisted living centers come in all shapes and sizes and allow residents to retain their independence with the benefit of caregiver assistance. When you are thinking about assisted living, you need to consider if the senior would do well in group living and what quality of center you could afford. You should also consider what services the center offers, such as housekeeping, recreational and social activities, security and transportation.

Advantages of Assisted Living

• Cheaper than in-home care when around the clock care is needed
• Have the chance to socialize with others who live in the same center
• The family does not have to worry about any logistics surrounding the hiring of caregivers
• Easy to transition to a higher level of care when required
• Costs of food, activities, and cleaning are usually included in the monthly fee
• Family time is more focused on quality time with senior

Disadvantages of Assisted Living

• Varying consistency in care as some staff will be better than others
• In some cases where dedicated one-on-one care is needed, you will have to pay extra
• Senior may find life in an assisted living center stifling

Financial Considerations To Keep In Mind

The senior’s monthly budget is going to be a major deciding factor in making this decision. While you may feel that assisted living would be of more benefit, it might be that their budget only allows for part-time in-home care.

You might also do the math and decide to use in-home care temporarily to save money until the senior’s condition worsens, or until they sell their house.

Here are the factors to take into account when breaking down the cost of in-home care vs. assisted living:

Breaking Down The Monthly Cost of In-Home Care

• Caregiver’s hourly rate
• How many hours of care a week
• Rent, mortgage, property taxes, utilities
• Transportation
• Grocery and/or meal prep cost
• Home maintenance costs
• Grooming supplies
• Household supplies

Breaking Down The Monthly Cost of Assisted Living

• The monthly fee
• Any additional fee for higher level of care required
• Any additional fee for housekeeping
• Toiletries
• Additional food such as snacks

Choosing The Right Care Option

By getting informed on these two options, you have taken the first big step in making your decision.

It is very important that you ensure that the senior is made a part of the decision making process. If after crunching the numbers you feel that assisted living is an option, be sure to start a dialogue, and take them on tours of the different facilities you are considering.

Generally, seniors do not want to feel like a burden on their family. If they are resistant to the idea of assisted living, remind them that they still retain their independence in these facilities, and have more social options that they might have lost due to deaths of friends or a spouse.

For a list of assisted living centres in your area, try the directory on seniorliving.org. For in-home care, try the directory on caring.com.

Whatever decision you make, having a care plan is an important step to ensuring the senior can retain their independence while lessening the anxiety on you and your family.