Deciding between assisted living and home care is an overwhelming process.

When a loved one has come to a point where they need assistance in their daily routine, you have a big choice to make. You start to research all of the different care options available. Should you look at assisted living or in home care? Which one is better for you? 

How do you make the decision between assisted living vs home care without feeling guilty?

And how do you make a decision that suits your financial situation?

There is no doubt that there are many factors to consider.

In this post, I will be breaking down each side to help you come to decision that works for you, your aging loved one and your family.

Assisted Living Vs Home Care: How Do You Choose?

Assisted Living

One of the biggest reasons people don’t choose assisted living is because of the high costs.

There is also the issue that sometimes aging family members don’t do well when they are away from the rest of the family.

And then of course, there is the guilt a lot of family members feel due to a sense that they are “abandoning” loved ones by choosing assisted living.

Let’s tackle each of these.

Cost

Costs of assisted living will vary based on the city and state you live in.

However, it is easy to look at the price of assisted living listed on the brochure and conclude that it is not for you.

Have you however taken a moment to calculate the costs of providing in-home care for your elderly loved one?

Apart from hiring experienced in-home caregivers who do an excellent job, perhaps providing care at home means you have to take a cut in your work time.

This is a financial cost too.

Perhaps home care requires that you modify your home to assist the mobility needs of your aging relative.

There is a respectable cost incurred here as well.

Factor in additional “fringe” costs of keeping your loved one at home and it is possible that you will come to the conclusion that assisted living costs about the same.

Emotional Guilt

Another reason people choose against assisted living is emotional guilt.

Your parents or aging relative might have been your caregiver when you were growing up.

You love them dearly. And so the thought of signing them up for assisted living feels like you’re abandoning them.

Perhaps your current job is too demanding and you can’t give them the full attention they need.

Your feelings are completely valid.

In such circumstances, it is a good time to talk this situation over with your aging loved one.

During this conversation, it will be important to be completely honest with your aging loved one about why keeping them at home is no longer feasible.

Assure them of your love for them and follow through with visits and constant support if you finally settle on assisted living.

Helping Your Loved One Cope With Separation

This point ties into the one above.

As human beings, we consider change a threat- whether that change is small or big.

Thus, it is natural for your aging loved one to feel that they are no longer wanted when you suggest assisted living as a care option.

This could even lead to a depressive state for your elderly loved one.

If necessary, talk this through with a licensed therapist to make sure you are on the same page with the decision.

To help your aging loved one cope with the separation, it might also be wise to pick them up for family events throughout the year so they don’t feel isolated.

Home Care

We’ve talked extensively about the advantages of home care on this blog.

As a company, we truly believe choosing excellent home caregivers can provide you with the relief and peace of mind you need while ensuring your aging loved one gets the best care.

However, we also believe in doing what is best for your family and particular situation.

With that clarification,  over the long haul, home care is sometimes cheaper than assisted living.

Additionally, your aging loved one will not be separated from their family. Do they verbalize that they feel safer at home? Are they part of community organizations such as a church or volunteer at the local hospital? In these instances it might be a smart decision to keep them at home while they receive in-home care.

It also means you will not have to spend money on gas, tolls and car maintenance to visit your loved one- as the situation would be with assisted living.

In assisted living facilities, one-on-one care is not possible.

With home care, personalized care is the standard.

On average, caregivers spend 20 extra hours per week caring for their loved ones.

Choosing professional home care could help you regain those 20 extra hours back.

And that guilty feeling of “abandoning” your aging loved one? That fear is removed. Why? Because you still get to enjoy your aging loved one in an environment they feel comfortable in.

Do you live in the San Diego area?

Are you in need of reliable home care professionals? Green Tree Home Care can help! Give us a call today at 800-518-9277.

We agree: It is not an easy decision

If the answer were straightforward, we would all know it by now, right?

Ultimately when it comes to choosing between assisted living vs home care, you have to think about what makes sense emotionally and financially in your situation.

This post lays out the broad picture of what you can expect should you go one route or the other.

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