If you have aging parents or other loved ones, you know what a difficult situation it can be. Your parents have always cared for you, and it can be painful to see them no longer able to take care of themselves. In addition to the mental anguish that can come with their aging, you may also find yourself having to make some tough choices. Among these choices, one of the most important—and most difficult—can be whether to hire in-home care for your loved ones or whether to move them to an assisted living facility where they can receive around-the-clock attention.
Pros and Cons of Assisted Living and In-Home Care
There are many factors that will influence your decision about which option is best for you and your family. These may include the self-sufficiency of your parents, your parents’ comfort, and the cost of each option, among other factors. There is no definitive answer to the question of assisted living vs. in-home care; everyone’s situation and needs are different.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities offer several advantages over other treatment options. These advantages mostly have to do with the level of service they provide. Assisted living facilities offer patients daily services, including prepared meals, help with medication, housekeeping services, and different levels of assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing or dressing. Although they do not offer the same level of healthcare supervision as a nursing home, assisted living facilities do offer 24/7 staff assistance should the patient need it, unlike most in-home options. In addition, assisted living facilities offer the patient the advantage of socialization and can prevent them from feeling isolated.
The chief disadvantage of assisted living facilities is the cost, which can be quite hefty. If you are considering assisted living options for your parents or other loved ones, there are resources that can help, such as Medicaid. While Medicaid will not cover the room and board associated with assisted living, it does offer home and community-based waiver services that can help defray some of the costs of the facility.
Advantages and Disadvantages of In-Home Care
In-home care is a cheaper, but less comprehensive, option than assisted living. If your parent does not require the more extensive services offered by assisted living, then in-home care can be a great way for them to receive the help they need, while remaining in a comfortable, familiar environment. In-home care also offers greater privacy than an assisted living facility and allows the patient to maintain their independence. Finally, it is usually a considerably more affordable option than assisted living—and financial assistance may be available as well. If your parent needs greater levels of care, however, in-home treatment may not be sufficient, and an assisted living facility may be a much more suitable option.
Contact Miller Estate and Elder Law
If you have any questions about what care option is best for your family—and how to go about paying for it—the experienced attorneys at Miller Estate and Elder Law are here to help. Download our free guide to Caring for Aging Parents or contact us today at (256) 251-2137 or by filling out the form below.