Many seniors and their loved ones recognize that they could use some outside assistance at some point, whether they desire to age in place with home care or go into a nursing home. Such decisions are never simple. Many people prefer not to leave their homes, while others seek the socialization and 24-hour access to medical care and services that nursing homes provide. There are numerous questions and factors to consider when making such significant decisions, and this guide is intended to help you feel less overwhelmed.
Here, we compare in-home care and nursing facilities and their benefits and drawbacks, costs, and payment choices to help you make the best decision for yourself or a loved one.
How much daily assistance is required?
Is the care recipient merely looking for someone to help around the house part-time or full-time with activities of daily living, prescription reminders, bill or financial support, or simply be a companion? Is the recipient in need of extensive medical support due to an injury or the onset of dementia? Do you want scheduled meals, on-site health care, and organized activities? Before picking between in-home care and nursing facility care, one must first assess how much care they require and the number of comforts they seek.
In-Home Care: What to Expect
The duration of in-home care varies from a few hours per week to 24/7, although most users receive 44 hours or fewer per week. All-day care in the house may be quite expensive, and this sort of care is usually provided by a hospice or palliative care agency. However, for seniors who want to age in place in the comfort of their own home, this may be the best option. Basic home caregivers, such as health aides and housekeepers, can remain as little or as long as you need them to provide companionship and support with everyday duties such as hygiene, meal preparation, transportation, medication reminders, general housework, etc.
Nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physicians, and other medical nursing experts can offer basic services in addition to much higher degrees of in-home care. These experts employ their advanced abilities to aid with wound care, IV changes and insertions, feeding tubes, catheters, injections, medication administration, and other physical needs beyond ADLs and basic mobility, all under the supervision of a qualified physician. Certified dementia and memory care health care specialists are also available in homes. However, they are best suited to persons in the early stages of these disorders.
Many people choose in-home care over nursing facility care because they prefer the privacy and familiarity of their own homes. With in-home care, many seniors report a higher quality of life and satisfaction, and data show that these beneficiaries have up to 50% fewer doctor visits each year. Families must determine whether to engage a caregiver privately or through an agency when contemplating in-home care. Finding appropriate individuals, doing background checks, checking their qualifications, managing financial issues such as caregiver payments, and calculating withholdings for taxes are all handled by agencies.
Nursing Home Care: What to Expect
For people who require more than basic care provided in the home, nursing home care may be the best alternative. Nursing homes serve patients in a residential environment with round-the-clock medical care and support. Caregivers will assist beneficiaries with all activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care requirements, mobility challenges, food, cleaning, washing, and providing competent medical care and/or therapy as needed. Many families who require full-time care choose nursing homes since they provide a wide range of services to patients and reduce caregiver stress.
Most facilities include semi-private and private rooms, with private rooms costing somewhat more than shared spaces. Some homes may have age limitations, and the majority do not allow on-site cooking or dogs. Many elders prefer nursing homes over home care because convalescent centres frequently include regular in-house activities like crafts, games, fitness, and trips for shopping and entertainment with transportation. These institutions may also provide advanced memory care, which is important in the later stages of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. A nursing home may be the best alternative for persons suffering from chronic health problems, significant mobility limitations, or major injuries.
Nursing Home vs. In-Home Care Costs
Nursing home and in-home care costs vary based on various factors, including location, the amount of care necessary, and the type of care required. The average cost of care varies greatly from state to state, with greater expenditures in areas with higher living costs. Home care may appear to be the most cost-effective alternative, but this is not always the case, depending on the factors mentioned earlier—particularly in the case of persons with specific requirements or 24-hour care. However, to give you a sense of what to expect, below are summaries of national statistics for popular care levels.
Average Nursing Home Costs
A semi-private room at a nursing home costs CAD 289 per day, whereas a private room costs CAD 330 per day. Semi-private and private rooms cost CAD 8,770 and $9,870 a month. Annual prices vary from $105,300 to CAD 118,470 for full-time nursing home care. More expenditures may be spent if dementia, memory care, or other specialized services are necessary.
Average Costs of In-Home Care
In-home care costs vary depending on the sort of caregiver you want and the credentials you want them to have. For 40-44 hours of care per week, non-medical paraprofessionals such as home health care aides charge CAD 28 per hour, CAD 224 daily, CAD 6,720 monthly, and CAD 80,640 yearly.
Due to their extra credentials, skilled medical care professionals may conduct more intensive services such as medicine administration, wound care, physical therapy, catheter care, intravenous requirements, and more than health aides. The average cost of a skilled home health care provider is CAD 280 per day, CAD 8,400 per month, and CAD 100,800 per year. There may be a 10-15% increase in expenses if you employ in-home care through an agency, but they are often beneficial given their convenience.
What is the Best Way to Pay for Senior Care?
It is essential to look into how to pay for nursing homes and in-home care after evaluating the costs. Payment options are many. Some persons who just require home health aides for a few hours per week may be able to pay by e-transfer or credit card, but those who require full-time acute care or nursing facility services may require financial assistance from the government or local agencies.