In-Home Care, Nursing Home or Assisted Living: Which Is Best for Your Loved One?
When your loved one’s health begins to decline, you may find yourself facing some difficult decisions regarding their care. Can you continue to provide all of their care, or do you need some kind of help? If so, what kind of help should you find for them? There are three primary kinds of senior care: in-home care, an assisted living facility, and a nursing home. Which one is best for your loved one? Keep reading to learn the pros and cons of each option.
In-Home Care
In-home care is typically the most comfortable option for those individuals that have the ability to meet most of their own basic needs, but may require some assistance with certain tasks, like personal hygiene and household chores. You can even seek something as simple as a companion for hire, where an individual comes to your loved one’s home a few times a week to provide socialization and mental stimulation. They can even assist with exercise by going on walks with your loved one during their visits.
Of course, more in-depth care can be provided in the comfort of your loved one’s home as well; however, this type of in-home care is typically the most expensive, as it usually involves hiring a live-in medical professional. This allows your loved one to continue living in their home while receiving professional medical care for their health.
Nursing Homes
For those individuals who need continuous, professional medical care, a nursing home is usually the preferred option. They are more affordable than an in-home nurse, but can provide thorough medical care for almost any health need. If your loved one is bed-bound or requires continuous care that you’re not capable of providing, a nursing home may be the best solution.
Of course, nursing homes have a reputation for feeling cold and sterile, but this is, at least in part, due to the fact that they are a medical facility. Still, it can be difficult for your loved one to feel comfortable and cared for in many of these facilities. Most individuals have a hard time adapting to such a drastic change in environment. In general, you should place our loved one in a nursing home only if they truly need it based on their health and medical needs.
Assisted Living
An assisted living facility provides a mix between home care and a nursing home. They can provide a professional level of care, particularly for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, but the facility offers a more personal, community-like environment than a nursing home. The exact level of care can vary slightly even within the facility, so it can suit a variety of different needs.
Assisted living facilities can provide help with personal hygiene and offer well-balanced meals to prevent the individual from needing to cook. Or, as stated above, they can offer memory care and help with ensuring your loved one takes their medication in the proper dosages and at the proper times. The varied levels of care available make assisted living facilities ideal for those whose health has begun to decline. As your loved one’s needs change with their health, an assisted living facility can continue to provide the care needed.
Choosing a Facility for Your Loved One
When deciding which facility is best for your loved one, it’s important to explore all aspects of your loved one’s needs—not only medical, but social and emotional as well. It’s also important to involve your family member in this decision. At this point in your loved one’s life, they’re likely beginning to feel as if they’re losing control of their own life. This can be incredibly difficult to deal with, and choosing a facility for them, without consulting them on the matter, will only serve to exacerbate the problem.
Sit your loved one down and talk about their needs, and what their preferences might be. Discuss the pros and cons with them in detail, and schedule some tours of various facilities that they might be interested in.
If you would like to schedule a tour of The Sarah House, or if you have questions about how our assisted living facility can help you care for your loved one, contact us today. We can meet a variety of care needs in each of our Florida-based assisted living facilities, including advanced memory care. Our professional and welcoming staff members will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have.