Caring for an elderly loved one comes with a long list of responsibilities. As a busy adult, you don’t always have enough time to provide the care they need.

Senior home care and assisted living are services for the elderly who need round-the-clock or regular assistance. When deciding to get help caring for your loved one, it can be challenging to choose between the two.

In-home care and assisted living services both offer several benefits, but the specific needs of your aging loved one will be the determining factor.

Understanding the key differences between two elderly care services will help you make the best decision for your elderly loved one.

What Is Assisted Living for Seniors?

Assisted living facilities, or ALFs, are ideal for elderly loved ones who want to maintain their independence and active social life. Residents of assisted living homes are typically mobile and require little assistance throughout the day.

One of the critical factors to remember about assisted living homes is that they are not for seniors needing full-time care. Residents can receive assistance with organizing prescriptions and other daily tasks; however, individuals with severe physical or cognitive decline would benefit more from specialized care.

What Services Come With Assisted Living?

At an assisted living facility, residents can have a shared or private room to live in. Assisted living facilities let seniors embrace their independence while still offering aid when needed.

Assisted living centers offer round-the-clock services for their residents. Bathing, dressing, chores, meal preparation, and transportation are the most common services requested by residents and their families. You can adjust the services given depending on what your loved one needs.

One of the most beneficial services offered by assisted living centers is social encouragement. Residents have several opportunities to eat, craft, and socialize with each other. In addition, ALFs provide transportation for residents to attend church, go to the movies, or nearly anywhere else outside of the facility.

Benefits of Assisted Living

• Elderly residents have 24/7 access to assisted living professionals.
• It relieves the family of caregiving responsibilities and lets them focus on the relationship.
• Seniors get to enjoy a thriving social setting with other residents their same age.
• Assisted living aid is customizable to fit the needs of each resident.

What Is Senior Home Care?

Senior home care provides personalized, one-on-one assistance from the comfort of you or your aging relative’s home. You can work with the home care agency to pick a nurse, CNA, or companion to come to the house and provide needed assistance regularly.

Senior home care allows your elderly loved one to remain at home while still receiving necessary aid. You can have the companion come to the house as often as needed, whether daily, weekly, or monthly visits.

What Services Come With Senior Home Care?

At-home care providers offer two types of services: medical and non-medical.

Medical in-home care services help your loved one with medication management, physical therapy, hospice care, and other health-related aid. A senior home care company offering medical assistance will typically send a nurse or certified nursing assistant (CNA) to care for your loved one.

Non-medical care at home offers assistance with daily chores such as laundry, meals, personal care, and other housekeeping tasks. The agency, in this case, sends a trained and caring companion to accompany your loved one during scheduled times.

What Are the Benefits of In-Home Care?

• Seniors can receive personalized care in the comfort of their own homes.
• Home care providers will send the same professional each time, allowing your aging loved one to form a stronger bond with their caregiver.
• In-home care assistance can be personalized to fit the unique needs of your senior, whether they need medical or non-medical aid.
• Senior home care is generally less expensive than residential assisted living.

Important Factors to Consider

Both senior home care and assisted living facilities offer extensive benefits to aid your elderly loved one. When deciding between the two services, there are several factors to consider.

How Much Assistance Does Your Senior Need?

One of the key deciding factors to consider is knowing how much assistance your aging loved one needs. To get a better idea of this, make a list of everything that they need help with. It helps to organize this list into daily, weekly, and monthly needs.

Once you know the type of care they need, consider how much you and your family can contribute. Keep in mind that your aging loved one will require long-term and consistent care. Comparing their specific needs to how much assistance you and your family can offer will help you decide between senior home care and an assisted living facility.

What Does the Budget Look Like?

Another essential factor to consider is the financial situation. The exact cost of an assisted living facility and care at home will vary depending on several factors:

• The agency or facility that you choose
• Number of home care hours
• Specific medical and non-medical needs of your elderly relative

It is worth doing some in-depth research to get cost estimates on your options. Search for different senior home care services and local assisted living facilities to compare costs and available services.

Finding Senior Home Care

When it comes to finding a care provider, it is critical to choose a company that cares about the well-being of your elderly loved one as much as you do. At Crystal Home Care, we understand the value of having a devoted professional take care of your aging relative. That’s why we focus on providing every senior with a qualified and caring companion.

We help families determine the best course of action for their loved ones by evaluating specific needs and available services. Crystal Home Care offers senior home care services in Chicagoland and surrounding areas. Call us today at (708) 535-4300 to learn more about how we can help you care for your aging loved one.

We provide professional in-home care services throughout Chicagoland and the surrounding suburbs including but not limited to: Chicago – Hinsdale – Winnetka – Northbrook – Wilmette – Oak Brook