Have you thought of important considerations for In-Home Care in Anchorage Alaskas for your loved one?
There are so many ways to get them the care that they need that it can be hard to decide what’s right. Should you choose in-home care? Assisted Living?
This decision isn’t an easy one. You and your loved one (if they’re able) need to work together to find their best options for senior living.
We want to help. If you’ve been considering in-home care, make sure that you read through these important considerations first. Let’s talk about in-home care, other options, and what the best choice for your loved one is.
1. Overall Independence
How independent is your loved one (or rather, how independent do they want to be)?
Some seniors prefer living at home when they want to take control of their independence. After all, they get to keep their space, their home, their means of transportation, and everything else that comes alongside aging in place.
But is this really the best option for independent seniors? It might be for some of them, but for others, they’ll be more limited by this living situation. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services National Institute on Aging, it depends on the individual senior and their healthcare needs how well they will fare aging in place.
In assisted living centers, your elderly loved one still gets their own space. It’s an apartment rather than a house, but this means they’ll have fewer daily tasks and responsibilities. It’s more like living in a hotel and apartment crossover.
If your loved one has already stopped driving, they’ve already lost some of their independence. Assisted living centers restore that independence with on-site recreation options. Your senior can get around by themselves instead of seeking out public transportation or help from family members. This also gives them the opportunity to socialize.
2. Cost
There’s no doubt that assisted living is expensive, but is home care a cheaper option?
Professional and high-quality in-home care will add up over time. Even if the initial cost seems cheaper, consider the hourly pay for someone who’s around all the time. High-quality caregivers make good wages and you want the best for your elderly loved one.
Like any other rental space, you pay for assisted living apartments every month at a set rate. That rate looks high, but it covers rent, some amenities, and caregivers, as well as the priceless knowledge that your loved one is being cared for and kept safe. It is worth noting that so often when corners start to be cut for the sake of price, quality can suffer too. Consider what the real cost is for things like remodeling a home for safety and providing transportation to doctors appointments.
3. Expertise
As we mentioned, high-quality caregivers are expensive. They’re also hard to come by and hard to vet. How do you know that your in-home caregiver is capable of dealing with all of the needs of your loved one?
When your loved one has specific health-related needs, or even if they’re just in need of someone to help them with their daily tasks, you need to know that the person that you choose for their care is competent (if not exceptional) at what they do.
In assisted living centers, however, you know that there’s someone that can suit every need. People don’t work alone; they work in a group. If someone has skills that another caregiver doesn’t have, they work together to make sure all needs are met.
Bonus: this is great if your loved one is choosier with people they spend their time with. If you don’t like your hired in-home caregiver, you need to go through the process of hiring a new one. What a pain! If you don’t like one of the caregivers at the assisted living center you don’t have to see them.
4. How Much Home Care Is Needed?
Expertise also comes into play when it comes down to the amount (and type) of care that your elderly loved one needs.
Seniors who are active and independent have different needs from those who manage dementia or certain other health issues. Caregivers that you can afford may not be capable of handling all of the needs of your loved one.
Your caregivers also may not offer all-hours. If this is important to you, consider other options.
Assisted living centers have options for memory care and more acute care for those who need it. Standard assisted living isn’t as full-service, but you’ll know that there’s always someone on-site who can help when necessary.
5. Scheduling Requirements
How often does your loved one need care, and how willing (or able) are you to manage the schedules of the caregivers that you hire?
Scheduling home care isn’t easy. Unless you go through an agency, you act as an employer. This means that you have to figure out appropriate schedules, manage conflicting schedules, and find replacements when necessary.
As we mentioned, most caregiving services aren’t 24 hours. There will be a time where your loved one is left to their own devices. If your loved one is prone to falling or confusion, this is enough time to be dangerous.
Take time to talk to your elderly loved one about how often they need care. It may be a hard conversation to have, but you get them talking, yu may find that your loved one has the same concerns that you do!
6. Future Needs
Many people are able to “age in place” in their homes, meaning that they never change the amount of help that they’re given. These people are great candidates for in-home care.
Others, though, need assistance that scales with their needs. As we get older, we need more and more help to do the things that used to be effortless.
Some people develop cognitive conditions as they age, while others experience an increase in health issues. When you choose assisted living, you know that your elderly loved one will get the care that they need in their new home regardless of whether or not their needs shift.
Is In-Home Care Really the Right Choice for Your Loved One?
Many people benefit from in-home care. It’s nice to be able to live at home or with your family as you age, but it isn’t always the best option, sometimes it can even pt strain on the family. Assisted living, on the other hand, is great for independence, future care, socialization abilities, and so much more.
Talk with your loved one about their wants and needs so you can make the right choice together.
If you’re looking for fantastic senior living in Anchorage, we might have the community for you. Take a 3-D tour and contact us to learn about our facilities so we can get your loved one the new home that they deserve.
