Senior Care Options: What You Need to Know
There are several options when it comes to figuring out what to do when it comes to senior care. Some options include: home care/aging in place, assisted living, retirement living, and nursing home living. But how do you know which option is best for you or a loved one?
The many types of options can become an overwhelming task to consider. Below is a quick breakdown of senior care options, who benefits from each as well as average price.
Home Care/Aging in Place
What is it? Home care/aging in place involves a caregiver coming to the house and provide aid whoever may need the care. The types of assistance home care caregivers provide can range from bathing, walking, meal preparation, and transportation to and from different places (ie. grocery stores, doctor appointments).
Why do people choose Home Care/Age in Place? If you are someone who is looking to stay at home and not move to a nursing home or an assisted living facility, this is a great option for you.
“I’ve lived here for 45 years. Nowhere else will feel like home.”
Memories, pictures, items, years and time spent at home and the experiences make a home special and unique, and that can be a difficult thing to want to give up; and good news is that you don’t have to! With the right mobility and accessibility equipment, and help from others, you can age safely and independently in your own home. We offer plenty of aging in place tools to help! Stair lifts, vertical platform lifts, dumbwaiters, lift chairs, and more are all great tools to keep you safe, mobile and able to access all of your home. Need help deciding what best works for your home and situation? Call our Mobility Specialists and we will be glad to help! You can also view the products we offer here.
For some, aside from the modifications, additional home care and tools needed to make your home more mobile-friendly, this could be the most affordable option for seniors. No need to downsize, pack up and move into an unfamiliar place.
Assisted Living
What is it? Assisted Living is a senior care option for those who might need more care, whether it be medical or around the clock help all while in the setting of a community. This option tends to be more expensive than home care/aging in place due to the fees of tending to the community, staffing, housing and medical care. According to the 2020 Genworth Financial Cost of Care survey, the average cost of assisted living care a month in the U.S. is $4,300.
Why do people choose Assisted Living? Seniors who find it hard to manage their health condition, their home, or are going through a sense of loneliness or isolation make great candidates for assisted living facilities.
Retirement Living
What is it? A retirement living community is a residential community/complex tailored to only allow seniors live there. This is an option for seniors who can still mostly care for themselves but may need help from outside home care agencies that are allowed to be in the complex. Residents of retirement living can have access to communal amenities and services such as housekeeping and sometimes meal preparation. The cost of senior retirement living is $2,550 monthly, according to A Place for Mom.
Why do people choose Retirement Living? Retirement living could be a good option for seniors if you still want the sense of independent living and freedom but want to be in a community with other older adults.
Nursing Home Living
What is it? A Nursing Home is a long-term private place for seniors who don’t necessarily need to be in the hospital, but need the care and cannot be cared for while at home. They typically have nurses on hand 24-hours a day as well as physical, speech and occupational therapists available. If you stay in a nursing home, you may have a roommate or you can have your own private room. This is the most expensive senior care option out of all the ones we covered. The average cost per month for a shared space (roommate) is around $7,750 a month and $8,800 for a private room.
Why do people choose Nursing Home Living? Those who have severe medical issues and need frequent monitoring and supervision from health professionals choose nursing home living. You typically need a medical referral to be admitted to this type of senior care.
There are a lot of factors to weigh when it comes to figuring out which senior care option works best for you or a loved one. We hope this guide provides assistance when it comes to making those decisions. For more information on senior care options, research local senior care help in your area.
Sources:
https://www.thegablesfamily.com/7-different-forms-of-care-for-the-elderly/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place-growing-older-home
https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/homecare
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/05/10/2226492/0/en/NEARLY-90-OF-AMERICANS-AGE-50-AND-OLDER-WANT-TO-AGE-IN-PLACE.html