If you’ve had a chance to peruse some of the pages here at Harriet’s Home, you’ll know there’s a ton of stuff you can do to help your elderly parents maintain an independent lifestyle.
The thing is, while we might all hope to be able to take care of themselves until our final breath, it unfortunately isn’t always possible. Aging comes with all sorts of physical and mental hurdles that we have to face, and having somebody there to face them with you can make a world of a difference.
That being said, I think we can all agree that taking care of someone, even if that someone is your mom or dad (perhaps especially if it’s your mom or dad), can be an incredibly difficult and often overwhelming responsibility.
Luckily, there are entire industries dedicated to helping you provide the support your parents need to enjoy comfortable, fulfilling lives. Senior homecare Choosing
We’re here to help you figure out which solution is best suited for you and your loved ones.
Why use senior care?
Seniors who stay social have a better quality of live and lower chance of cognitive decline. Providing them with someone to care for them not only ensure their basic needs are met, but also provides them with the sort of companionship we all need to enjoy our lives.
On the flip side, moving the responsibility of caring for your loved ones to someone who specializes in that line of work, will do wonders for your relationship with your mom or dad. Spending time with one another without the feeling of being overburdened will let you get back to what really matters in life.
Types of care
When most people think of senior care, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a nursing home. Well, there’s been quite a dramatic change in the type and extent of care available to seniors in the past couple of decades – probably due to the all baby boomers entering their golden years!
While nursing homes are still very popular, they’re no longer the only option available.
There are three primary types of care available to seniors: In-home Care, Assisted Living & Nursing Homes.
Let’s go through each one to figure out which will best suit the needs of your parent.
In-Home Senior Care
Also referred to as Living Assistance Services, in-home senior care allows your parents to remain at home where they can continue to live independently while receiving support with day-to-day tasks.
I guess you could think of them as sitters for the elderly, but let’s avoid telling our parents that, shall we?
The wonderful people that work for these in-home services ensure your loved ones can fulfill all their daily tasks, from eating and dressing to running errands and arranging appointments.
- Assist with:
- Social activities
- Meals, prep and cleanup
- Medication reminders
- Light housekeeping
- Arranging appointments
- Running errends
- Light exercise
- Bathing, dessing and grooming
- Transfer assistance
Be aware that this type of service generally does not provide medical care. They’re typically limited to reminding your parent when its time to take their medication and perhaps helping them with pill containers.
Most in-home services will sit down with you to assess the needs of your parent and figure out the best way to support them. This is generally requires no obligation or cost.
There are services that offer 24/7 care, but if your parent requires that level of assistance, you’re probably better off with a more dedicated service, such as assisted living or a nursing home. These also tend to be cheaper in the long run.
- Synergy HomeCare
- Comfort Keepers
- Visiting Angels
- Seniors Helping Seniors
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Carelinx
Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities are communities where seniors can live independently while receiving assistance with daily activities. The key difference here is that unlike in-home care, this type of senior care involves moving your parent into a new residence, such as an apartment or private home. Think of it as an all-inclusive resort, without the bottomless mojitos.
Nursing Homes
If your loved one is dealing with dementia, has a physical disability, or for whatever reason requires around the clock assistance, a nursing home is likely your best choice. Nursing homes provide 24/7 medical care for your parent in the comfort and safety of a stand-alone residence.
Comparing Costs
Costs associated with each of these types of care will vary depending on where you live and the extent of care required.
A comprehensive survey done by Carescout provides these monthly estimates.
In-house Care: $3994
Assisted Living Facility: $3750
Nursing Home: $7148 – $8121, depending on room type.
Insurance Coverage
If you’re like me, your jaw probably hit the floor when you saw the numbers listed above. Thankfully, there are some programs out there will assist in paying for the various types of senior care.
In-Home Care
For the most part, in-home care services are covered by Medicaid. The type and extent of care provided does vary between states, however. For more information, check out this list.
Assisted Living Facilities
Depending on your state, Medicaid will typically offer some form of financial assistance towards assisted living. Check out this list for a breakdown of what your state offers.
Nursing Homes
If you have Medicaid, you may qualify for financial assistance. Depending on your income level and available resources, Medicaid will pay for all or a portion of your nursing home expenses. However, not all nursing homes accept payment through Medicaid. Make sure to look into this before signing anything!