You might be wondering if home care or assisted living will provide better care for you or a loved one. Both assisted living and home care are great options that provide care for people in need of assistance. The difference is mainly the environment. Your own home verse moving to a more communal living environment. To better evaluate what’s best for you, take a look at some information below on both home care and assisted living.
Home Care
In home care can be defined as a non-medical caregiving and assistance in your provided home. This does not include medical care and therapies. Families and seniors might choose home care as a way for the senior to stay in their own home as they receive the assistance the need and is an alternative to moving into an assisted living community.
Reasons why you might need Home Care:
- If you struggle with mobility and need assistance walking around your home.
- If you suffer from memory impairment.
- You require assistance on meal prep, bathing, transportation, going to the bathroom and more.
- You are in need of housekeeping.
- You no longer drive and need assistance going to appointments, grocery stores, friends houses etc.
Home Care during COVID-19
With COVID-19 pushing us into an isolated quarantine we have the idea that home care might be the best option for our seniors and loved ones. One thing we must recognize is that we are all still human. Social engagement is really important for our seniors’ mental health. In fact a poll conducted in spring of 2020 by the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that nearly 45% of adults in the U.S. have reported their mental health has been negatively affected from situations like isolation and job loss due to the pandemic.Â
Isolation can make one feel alone, and in a stressful environment and amongst a global pandemic, relationships and social interaction is needed. While being at home with a home aid is a great option for many reasons, it may not be the best option for our social butterflies who thrive with more engagement.
Assisted Living
Assisted living can be defined as a form of senior housing in which residents receive regular help with activities of daily living. Assisted living facilities don’t primarily handle medical situations, but do require nurses for minor medical infrequences such as first-aid or minor wounds. These facilities usually provide the feeling of living at home. They are designed to have residents feel comfortable and supported with compassionate staff, balanced meals and regular opportunities to socialize with other residents. Socialization can occur through one on one visits or through activities such as bingo, fitness programs, arts and crafts, gardening, and more.
Assisted Living provides:
- Transportation
- Medication management
- 3 meals per dayÂ
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Nursing care
- Social activities
Assisted Living during COVID-19
Assisted Living facilities can be seen as being unsafe for elders to stay amongst the pandemic. However, high quality senior livings have been able to adapt to the new climate and make these facilities incredibly safe while still making the assisted living a valuable place for seniors to live.
Isolation is a huge aspect of life that many adults have had to deal with since the beginning of the pandemic to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Things like social gatherings were cancelled, restaurants and shops closed, and people left alone to deal with things like weather, medication, work, and more. Luckily assisted living facilities have been continuously working on how to create safe social situations for their residents so they don’t have to lose that aspect of their life, while providing all of the care and assistance of daily living as needed.
Benefits of Assisted living during COVID-19:
- Independence encouraged with only the assistance you really need
- Medication management
- High Touch Cleaning
- Infection control policies
- Fully supplied with PPE
- Access to COVID-19 vaccines
- Visitation Guidelines to keep everyone safe
- Safe social interactions, virtually, one on one, or for small group events
Pricing Home Care vs. Assisted LivingÂ
The average cost of in-home care in the U.S. is $4,209 a month according to Genworth Financial’s Cost of Care Survey. This can also vary depending on the state. According to Genworth Financials the national average cost of Assisted Living is $4,051. This number can vary depending on the facility and its amenities as well as the state in which the facility is in.
Once broken down and all factors of the hour-by-hour care is calculated, home care can actually be seen as a more expensive way to provide care for a loved one. The cost can vary depending on the individual’s need for assistance but the average hourly cost according to Genworth Financial is $24 an hour. If you are only acquiring assistance 20 hours a week this could be a lower cost of $1,950 a month, but Assisted Living facilities can provide care and services 24/7.
How Spring Hills is Re-Imaging Healthcare
When your loved one is in need of a little extra support, they may benefit from Spring Hills’ Continuum of Care and Services. We believe that Caring with a Commitment to Quality should be at the core of every healthcare decision. Spring Hills manages innovative and distinctive home care, post acute care, memory care and assisted living communities where people can live each day to its fullest in a supportive, home-like environment. At Spring Hills, you’ll find a warm, welcoming team where you can flourish in whatever way that looks like for you.
Spring Hills Signature Touches
In everything we do at Spring Hills, we encourage health, wellness and peace of mind for total well-being. Signature TouchesTM, an expansive project resulting from several years of thoughtful research and planning, represents our commitment to making healthy living the foundation of every aspect of life. Our Signature Touches are services dedicated to caring for our residents by focusing on specific needs and desires, to enhance quality of life, respect time-honored passions and engage residents in new experiences.
Spring Hills will change the way you view healthcare. Here, we are all about creating a loving, upbeat environment focused on your total wellbeing. We take the time to get to know you so that we can offer just the right combination of personal attention and assistance to be helpful, not obtrusive. We want you to feel comfortable, cared for, and most importantly to Live Happy.
Not sure what type of care would benefit your loved one? Take our easy 5 question quiz to learn more. Start Quiz Now: https://interacty.me/projects/1d7aa86327ecb5e6Â