There are a variety of eldercare options available for seniors. These include in-home care, independent and assisted living communities, and nursing home facilities. These senior care options vary in the Levels of Care that they offer, how much assistance they provide to the clients they serve, and their cost.
Levels of Care are simply the types of service each community provides and how often they are provided. These are things such as meals being served; assistance with personal care tasks such as using the bathroom, bathing, dressing, or medication management; and assistance with activities of daily living such as grocery shopping and meal preparation, bill pay, and housecleaning tasks.
In-Home Care Options for Seniors
There are a variety of options for elderly care at home, including the many types provided by Advanced Nursing + Home Support. These include Personal, Companion, and Respite Care as well as caregivers who specialize in working with people who have diagnoses of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. This is usually one of the lower-cost options for senior care as it is provided in the client’s home.
- Personal Care specializes in assisting with ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) such as bathing, dressing, or help in the bathroom and anything that requires hands-on care.
- Companion Care is where a caregiver can assist your elderly loved one with IADL’s (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) such as grocery shopping, paying bills, making and attending doctor’s appointments, or cooking meals.
- Some in-home agencies have caregivers who specialize in patients with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, or they have nurses who can offer skilled care in the home.
- Respite Care is a service provided by Montgomery County, to give the primary care provider, that lives with the client, a short break.
Before receiving one of these options for elderly care at home, clients and their families will meet with the provider agency to discuss their situation, needs and preferences. This in-home assessment will help the agency ensure they can meet the client’s needs, as well as match your elderly loved one with a caregiver who will be the best fit for their personality and situation.
Senior Communities
There are three main levels of senior care options available in senior communities. These options for senior care include Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing Home facilities.
Independent Communities for Seniors
Independent communities are just what they sound like. These are communities where seniors live in their homes independently. These homes can be apartments, townhomes or duplexes, or private, single-family homes. Some of these communities offer minimal services such as providing meals, housecleaning services, or outdoor maintenance (like snow plowing and lawn mowing).
These communities can be separate, though they are often affiliated with other assisted living communities or nursing home facilities. If needed, seniors can usually receive in-home care services while living in an independent community. This is another, lower-cost, elder care option as it is also provided in the client’s private home and only a low Level of Care is offered.
Assisted Living Communities
Assisted Living communities are for people who can live semi-independently but require some assistance with personal care tasks or activities of daily living. As an example, staff at these facilities may assist residents with taking their medication or bathing. These communities may be licensed by the State, but this is not usually required.
Often, residents will enjoy private living areas in these types of facilities. While meals are often included, there are usually kitchenettes in each room, so residents can cook for themselves if they wish and are able. Residents are also usually free to come and go as they please and can drive their own vehicles if they have a valid driver’s license.
**Please note: if your elderly loved one requires financial assistance (such as Medicaid or Medicare) to pay for their stay, only some Assisted Living services will be covered by these programs and then usually only in licensed facilities.
Nursing Homes
Nursing Home facilities provide the highest level of care of all the senior care options, as well as more intensive, round-the-clock supervision. These facilities are required to be licensed by the State and Medicare/Medicaid programs usually cover most of the services they offer. People can have private rooms in these settings, but they are usually more expensive, so rooms are often shared. This can especially be true if Medicare or Medicaid programs are providing financial assistance.
These facilities usually have more rules and restrictions regarding when residents can leave and return. With this senior care option, there are usually no kitchens in the rooms. It is also the most expensive as it is the most intensive and involved option for care.
Find an In-Home Caregiver Today
At Advanced Nursing + Home Support, our compassionate team of home care specialists is committed to offering best-in-class care to our clients. We want to empower your elderly loved one to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.
If you have questions regarding the many options for elderly care in Maryland or the D.C. area, please feel free to contact Advanced Nursing + Home Support today. We provide unparalleled service in our clients’ homes.
Contact us online or by phone at 240-414-4147 to request more information.
