If the time comes when your loved one can no longer care for themselves on their own, decisions must be made about the best way to provide care for them. Often, families face a choice between in-home care or moving a senior to an assisted living or skilled care facility. If you find yourself in this situation, consider the benefits of in-home care before making your decision.
In-Home Care Takes Pressure Off Family Caregivers
Providing frequent care for an ill, injured, or aging loved one often requires you to put the rest of your life—kids, spouse, job, friends—on hold. Because of the huge demands of this role, it’s common for caregivers to feel pulled in multiple directions at once. Having a respite care provider take some of the pressure off of you, even for just a few hours a week, can really help. By maintaining your own self-care routine, you can put your best foot forward when caring for your loved one as your schedule allows.
In-Home Care Reduces Hospital Readmission Rates
Another benefit of home health care services is that they can help decrease the chance that your loved one will end up being readmitted to the hospital after an inpatient stay, because home care providers can perform daily tasks that may be challenging or unsafe for a senior who has just returned home from an illness or procedure. Additionally, home care providers can speed up the recovery process of loved ones by helping them exercise and rehabilitate. A caregiver can also help identify signs of infection or other complications early, so these can be treated before another hospital stay is required. This protects your loved one’s overall health and decreases healthcare costs.
Home Health Care Services Mean More Personalized Care
Care in a nursing home or other skilled nursing facility is difficult to personalize. There isn’t a great deal of one-on-one attention simply because there isn’t the manpower to provide it. With an in-home care provider, however, your loved ones will receive 1:1 attention. Individualized goals can be set and worked toward more quickly, and your loved one will have personal attention that can help stave off loneliness. Changes in a senior’s condition can also be noted more easily, as there aren’t other residents competing for the caregiver’s attention. These factors can also contribute to a lower stress environment for your loved one.
In-Home Care is the Lower-Cost Option
A key benefit of in-home care is the budget-friendly price tag. According to an AARP calculator, the average annual cost for home health care services is just over $12,000. Comparatively, the annual cost of care at an assisted living facility is $61,000 and it is $121,000 at a nursing home. This cost savings frees up funds for other necessary services such as housing, utilities, groceries, and other medical needs. Additionally, receiving care in a private home has been shown to decrease overall healthcare costs, as it decreases the risk that individuals may contract a disease that may result in hospitalization.
In-Home Care Allows Your Loved One to Maintain More Independence
Moving into an unfamiliar place is stressful for people of any age. This is especially true for a senior who is now being separated from family and friends and is losing a long-time home environment. This additional stress can lead to illness, depression, and feelings of isolation. In-home care allows your loved one to remain at home long-term, where they feel safe and comfortable. This can lead to a better quality of life and better overall medical outcomes.
In-Home Care Allows for Consistency in Caregivers
In a facility-based setting, numerous caregivers rotate through over the course of a day, week, or month. With in-home care, once the caregiver(s) who best match the client’s needs are found, that specific person (or people) can consistently work with the senior throughout the duration of services being provided. This allows for stability and routine in your loved one’s life, which can contribute to a more peaceful routine.
Find a Home Care Provider Today
At Advanced Nursing + Home Support, we want to make all of our clients feel empowered in their everyday lives while they receive the highest quality of care. We know that many people need advanced medical support, and our goal is to make it as comfortable and easy as possible for your loved one to acquire this service in their own home.
We help with the difficult decisions. If you have a loved one who needs home health care services in Maryland or the D.C. area, take the first step towards peace of mind and contact Advanced Nursing + Home Support today. Contact us online or by phone at 240-414-4147 to request more information!
