Finding the best care program for a senior family member can be overwhelming. There are many things to consider, especially personal preferences, financial considerations, and health issues. As in-home care providers are on the rise, is it any better than nursing home care?
1. Familiarity
As much as possible, senior family members would like to stay at home more to spend time with other family members. If you plan to send them to a nursing home for in-depth care, they might as well hire in-home help. Relocation can be a tedious process for elders. But by hiring in-home healthcare, it might be easier for them to adjust to being taken care of. On top of that, they can spend more time with people they love.
Familiarity is an essential factor for seniors. A sudden change in the environment can make them feel anxious about their new surroundings. In effect, people experiencing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can feel more stressed as they realize they’re not dwelling in their homes anymore.
2. Customization
In-home care is as flexible as a nursing home environment. As you’re learning about the in-home care provider, they can inform you about their services—most offer customizable assistance options, especially for seniors with more specialized needs.
In choosing the best in-home care provider, make sure to pick the one who can offer a care program according to your senior loved one’s needs. As soon as the in-home care service starts, you’ll realize how much of a difference it is if you can tailor-fit the services to your loved one’s clinical needs.
3. Affordability
In-home health care is often covered by insurance but is less expensive than a nursing home or assisted living facility. Most of the time, insurance covers all or most of the cost—without compromising the quality and availability of care. Choosing an in-home care service also eliminates the costs of moving to an older adult facility.
4. Additional Privacy
A typical nursing home setup is open for everyone. Patients get to share common areas, such as outdoor spaces, visiting rooms, dining facilities, and recreation spaces. Sometimes, they also share more personal sites, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, with other residents. However, an in-home care service can take care of patients in their own homes, where they are more accustomed.
Patients can still use their rooms, mingle with everyone in the common areas. Although in-home care services are in the patient’s home, they are trained to maintain privacy and distance in the house.
5. Trains Independence
Nursing homes can become too limiting for adults. The experience they might have in a facility where others serve them might force them to give up their cherished independence sooner than necessary. Meanwhile, nursing homes allow them to do the tasks they’re used to, as long as it is not too much for them to do. If your senior family member has been independent most of their life, an in-home care service should suit them better than a nursing home.
Conclusion
There are more options for senior adults nowadays as they reach their prime age. However, it’s still crucial to choose the best options for them, according to their needs, preferences, and budget at hand. For those individuals who still can do things on their own, an in-home care service might be a better choice. But for those needing extra care and attention, a nursing home might suit their needs better.
Bridge Home Health and Hospice believes in utilizing state-of-the-art technology to ensure the highest quality care for individuals needing health and well-being support. Our staff is highly trained on the best standard practices to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Join us in promoting and improving patient care nationwide by logging on to our website.
