Aging in Place

When is Aging in Place the Best Choice for your Loved One?

When is it time for them to move into an assisted living or memory care community?

Both of these decisions can be very tough, but there are certain things to keep in mind when answering these questions.

One of the biggest drawbacks for people to move into a community is money, but they may not be as expensive as you think once you think about what you WON’T be paying for.

Pros/Cons of an Aging in Place

The monthly cost for an independent living, assisted living, or memory care community includes three (3) meals a day, laundry, utilities, cable TV, transportation, if applicable, and someone with you 24/7, so the cost is really not that much after all.

On top of that, consider the fact that you have no house maintenance or insurance, no vehicle maintenance or insurance, yard maintenance, or if an appliance breaks you don’t have to repair/replace it; there are so many cost savings people don’t really think about.

When is the right time to move your loved one(s) into an assisted living community?

You need to assess how much care they need. Will a home health aide be enough? Most home health care companies have a minimum of four hours a day, some have a maximum of twelve, others will provide twenty-four-hour assistance, but it will be in shifts. You will usually not have the same caregiver from a home health company.

In-home care enables the person to continue living in their own home and caregivers come in to assist with activities of daily living. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of home health.

Pros: senior receives one-on-one caregiving tailored to their specific needs, the senior is able to stay in their home as they age, family is able to choose the caregiver, and if the caregiver is a family member or friend, you have the familiarity on your side as well.

Cons: the cost can be huge depending on the number of hours the senior needs to be cared for, the family must remain engaged to ensure caregivers are doing their job, the family must stay involved in hiring and firing caregivers and creating backup plans should the caregiver not show up, there is a potential for depression as there won’t be much social interaction, the house may need modifications for wheelchair access, etc., and someone has to go out and purchase the groceries and whatever other essentials are needed.

Pros/Cons of an Assisted Living Community

Assisted living communities are places where seniors are thriving now. They have their own apartment or a shared room and they offer a wide range of care options. Let’s look at the pros and cons of assisted living.

Pros: the senior has social interaction, less worry about depression or isolation, three meals are prepared and provided by the staff, more affordable way to receive 24/7 care, doctors come to the communities, transportation is available should the senior be able to go out, the family can spend more time with their loved one rather than worrying about caring for them, the level of care can be increased as needed.

Cons: the senior may not enjoy being in a community with other seniors, one-on-one care may not be as personal as it would be at home, the quality of care can vary, there’s always a possibility of having to hire a private duty caregiver if more care than the community can offer is needed.

Both in-home health and assisted living communities have pros and cons. This is really just a personal choice and only you and your family can make this decision .

When you are ready to make a plan, call us at Assisted Living Made Simple at 386-847-2322

We help you make a plan for you or your loved one and our service is always free to you.