Home Care or Assisted Living Which is Best?

What are Home Care Services?

Home Care services are essentially what the name implies. In this care type, an older adult continues to reside in their own home, but has professional caregivers come in on a regular basis to assist the senior with daily tasks.

The credentials and training of Home Care caregivers can vary greatly. Some offer simple companionship and light duty services, while others might be CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistant) or LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurse) who can provide more formal, medically based care. 

Home Care caregivers can perform a wide variety of support services, including:

• Light Housecleaning
• Laundry Services
• Errand Shopping
• Reminders about Taking Medications
• Cooking (Limited)
• Transportation (Limited)
• Help with Bathing, Dressing,  or Using the Restroom

In many cases, Home Care services are not provided 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. This means that an older person could go without the assistance they need for long periods of time, unless family members step in and perform those duties.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living communities specialize in providing care to people who cannot safely live on their own anymore. These communities offer formal, 24-hour care for residents. Assisted Living services normally focus upon providing assistance and care with what are known as the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).    

The most common Activities of Daily Living include:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Using the Restroom
• Eating
• Moving About

Assisted Living communities are staffed by experienced medical professionals, such as RNs (Registered Nurses), CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) and other credentialed professionals.

Many communities offer a wide variety of amenities and services, such as:

Residents also enjoy building new friendships and spending time together as a community.

Determining Needs

One of the most important aspects of deciding whether an older loved one needs Home Care services or should reside in an Assisted Living community is based on their specific care requirements. Document carefully over a period of time what specific care your loved one needs.

 The following questions can be helpful to review.

• Is it safe for my loved to live at home?
• How many hours per day does my loved one need care?
• Do they require assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?
• Can they prepare meals?
• Do care needs require medical professionals? 
• Is there a need for medication management?