Shelley EOne day, you may have to decide between in-home care and assisted living for seniors. Whether it’s for yourself or a loved one, here are the pros and cons of in-home care to help you make an informed decision.
Advantages of In-Home Care
Many people love the comfort that their own home provides. For this reason, they’d like to avoid assisted living facilities and nursing homes at all costs and take the more independent route of in-home care.
In-home care allows you to enjoy the comfort of your home, which is tough to replicate in an assisted living facility. It also offers privacy that is unmatched.
Many people enjoy the control they have over their lives and the independence that comes with in-home care. You can pick a schedule and routine, instead of having someone else program it for you.
If you are close with your family, in-home care also lets you age in place, so you don’t miss any special moments. It can seem like a more natural progression of aging that can offer some much-needed peace of mind.
While some may say that assisted living offers the benefit of socialization and recreation, in-home care does not exclude you from such an advantage. Enroll in adult daycare, and you can enjoy both of those benefits while still sleeping in your own bed every night.
Disadvantages of In-Home Care
Although reliable, in-home care isn’t a perfect option for seniors, as it does come with some disadvantages. Depending on the level of care needed, having a senior remain at home can be intrusive or burdensome to others within the household.
The costs of in-home care are also high. You’ll probably pay by the hour for services like personal or medical assistance and housekeeping, all of which can cost a pretty penny. Unless you have savings stashed away or steady income, you may have trouble keeping up with these expenses since some may not be covered by government assistance, which we’ll discuss in a second.
Lastly, you don’t get the same level of supervision and support available with assisted living. If a senior is relatively dependent on others, this could be dangerous.
Paying for In-Home Care
Senior in-home care costs will likely play a massive role in deciding whether or not it’s right for you. Unlike assisted living, things like housing, utilities, and food are not included, since you’ll be staying at home.
Medicare may not cover all in-home services. You could get help from Medicaid with adult daycare, but that varies from state to state. Medigap insurance may also leave you uncovered here.
What are your options for paying for in-home care then? You may have luck with the following:
- Long-term care insurance
- SSI
- Veteran’s benefits
- Life settlements
- Private funds
Before picking in-home care as your final solution, be sure to compare it to assisted living to see which best fits your situation. There are many factors to take into consideration, so the sooner you begin researching both options, the better.
Mark Luigi
