Indeed, you want nothing but the best kind of care for your senior parent. But making the decision can be pretty overwhelming. You have to think of the advantages and disadvantages of various care options and consider specific concerns like health issues, personal preferences, and more. And in between those thoughts, you might even feel guilty about not being able to care for them yourself.
As you contemplate about your next move and where to go, questions will start clouding your mind. Is in-home care better than nursing homes? To help you make the best decision for your senior parents, read below the pros of in-home care:
Familiar and Comfortable Environment
One of the most notable benefits of in-home care is allowing seniors to stay in their precious homes, reducing the unsettling effects of relocation and giving them the chance to keep their routines. Sometimes, sudden changes in the environment can cause stress to the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Personalized Care Options
In-home care is also perfect for seniors who need personalized care. Whether they need part-time care during the day or all-day, all-night supervision, in-home care can be flexible according to their needs.
It has a list of services that you can customize depending on their needs, giving you peace of mind knowing that they get whatever they need, any time of the day. You don’t have to worry about your loved one being compatible with their caregiver as they will have someone that matches them, assisting them with tasks when they need care.
Affordability
We cannot deny that nursing homes are more expensive than in-home care. If you want to give your senior parents the best care on a limited budget, in-home care is the way to go. Even though some nursing facilities offer the best packages, you might end up paying for amenities that your parents don’t even like.
And since in-home care offers a wide range of services by personal providers, your family can save a lot by paying only for the services required by the older loved one. In-home care ensures that your parents get the best kind of care without breaking the bank.
Furthermore, you will be more at ease if you provide your parents home medical alert system. So that wherever you might be in the world, you will know that they are safe and sound in their home.
Health and Safety Benefits
Unfortunately, nursing home facilities have been one of the most targeted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Choosing in-home care is a great way to reduce the risk of your senior parent catching illnesses. It limits their exposure to viruses that they can get from staff members, other home residents, and caregivers.
More Privacy
Nursing home facilities encourage their residents to create relationships. That’s why they mostly share common spaces like dining areas, visiting rooms, and recreation spaces. Sometimes, they even share bedrooms and bathrooms, depending on the resident’s budget.
On the contrary, in-home care allows seniors to retain their privacy and access to the spaces in their homes. They can stay in the living room as long as they like, eat in peace in the dining room, and have visitors whenever they want.
Even though they have caregivers in their home, care providers as primarily trained to respect personal spaces and privacy. They only provide companionship and care when needed.
Promoting Independence
In most cases, older adults like to be independent. They don’t like the feeling of being restricted as it makes them feel weak and vulnerable. If you put your senior parents in a nursing facility, they will be forced to let go of their independence.
For instance, seniors usually enjoy grocery shopping, cooking, and preparing meals. They will not be able to do these things at a nursing home anymore as the facility handles everything. With in-home care, older adults can still enjoy doing these activities and have the freedom to do things they like. They don’t need to follow any regulations and policies as they can still make decisions for themselves.
Specific Tasks of In-Home Caregivers
Here are the common responsibilities of in-home caregivers:
- Assist the elderly in walking
- Remind the patient about medications
- Companionship while grocery shopping
- Preparing meals
- Assistance during transportation to errands and appointments
- Basic housekeeping chores like laundry
- Grooming and hygiene care
- Personal care for dementia
The main priority of caregivers is your loved one’s well-being. Their training allows them to give excellent care services for seniors, giving family members peace of mind. If you think that in-home care is the best option for your senior parents, talk to a few care provider companies and learn more about the services they can offer.
