Asking for help is always the hardest part, isn’t it? Raising your hand is tough, whether you’re a teenager struggling through geometry, a young adult interviewing for a job or a grown child needing to care for a parent.We’re not tops at trig, but we can help you figure out what to do when your parent needs more help than you can give right now. There are two main options for you to choose from: hiring an in-home caregiver or moving your parent to an assisted living facility.
What is in-home care?
An in-home caregiver is a trained professional who comes into your parent’s home regularly to do whatever it is you need them to do.
You can hire elderly care on a part-time or full-time basis. Some caregivers specialize in housekeeping for elderly patients, taking care of cooking, cleaning or laundry. Others are more like personal assistants who help with medication reminders, errands and bringing patients to appointments.
You can also hire caregivers who are adept at intimate personal care, like bathing, dressing, grooming and helping to administer medical treatments.
What is assisted living?
Assisted living is a residential facility. Patients live there full-time and are supplied with whatever help they need from caregivers who work for the facility.
Many assisted living facilities offer graduated care depending on what their residents require. There are assisted living facilities with condominiums, apartments or town homes. These are intended for mobile seniors who need limited assistance. Most facilities, however, focus on private or shared rooms for their patients. Care might begin at housekeeping tasks or errand-running and rise to the level of full-time assistance on basic personal hygiene tasks.
Typically, assisted living is one step below a nursing home.
Which is better–in-home care or an assisted living facility?
The answer to this question depends entirely on your family’s situation. You need to consider a wide range of factors, including the level of care (and frequency of care) your parent needs, your parent’s personality, your own lifestyle and your budget.
Here are some upsides and downsides of both options:
An in-home caregiver lets your parent stay in a familiar and comfortable environment. You’re able to choose exactly who you work with and who takes care of your loved one, though assistance might not be available 24/7.
If you opt for part-time care, you might find yourself on the hook for more caregiving duties than would be ideal. And, when your parent is alone, you might worry more. However, there are numerous senior care safety products available that can help relieve these worries—and keep your parent at home and independent for as long as possible.
An assisted living facility offers round-the-clock care. Unfortunately, you might not know or be able to control every person who helps your mother or father. If your parent is picky about who they interact with, they might not flourish with such limitations. Rooms can also be bland and impersonal, which often makes residents feel less at home than you would prefer.
On the upside, these facilities usually have a calendar of community-wide events for seniors. Activities can widen your parent’s social circle and encourage them to interact and engage with others, which is important for their mental health.
Which choice is more affordable?
Depending on how much care your parent requires and what facilities are available in your area, both assisted living and in-home care can be quite expensive. (If you live in Arkansas, we offer complimentary in-home assessments to help you figure out the right choice for your circumstances.)
If your loved one needs part-time assistance or less-involved care, you might find that in-home offerings are more in your budget than you might think. Medicaid can also help you cover some in-home care costs. This is a great avenue to explore, especially if your parent is largely able to take care of themselves or you’re seeking respite help for your own well-being.
If there was one bit of advice we could give you, it would be this: You don’t have to do it alone. Whether you opt for assisted living or you hire an in-home caregiver, you’re making a choice that will secure the help your parent needs to live a happier, healthier life.]]>