7 Benefits of In-Home Care
There are many benefits of in-home care and multiple reasons why it makes more sense than assisted living or nursing home care for aging loved ones.
Home care agencies provide the ultimate personalized services to our clients and families, from the comfort and ease of aging in place with dignity and independence to optimized support, nutrition, and social engagement.
7 Advantages to Hiring a Home Care Agency
If you are trying to decide whether a loved one needs more support to remain at home, we recommend reading When To Consider Home Care.
Continue reading below to learn more about some of the core benefits of in-home care.
1. Independence
Capital Caring Health recently partnered with WebMD, a leading health information resource, to field a national survey. The results were astounding; nearly 90% of American adults 50 years old and older say they prefer to age in place at home rather than transitioning into assisted living or nursing home communities. This is largely due to a strong desire to be as independent as possible, for as long as possible, without sacrificing the comfort of home and community.
Home care supports this goal in every way. Services are catered to the needs and wishes of the client and family and ensure clients enjoy the same quality of life as they always have, bringing in support as needed. This support system includes:
- Transportation
- Light housekeeping
- Errand running and grocery shopping
- Meal preparation
- Companionship at home and for routine outings and events
- Organizing shelves and living areas for better accessibility
- And so on
Home care services are adapted to meet aging adults where they’re at, rather than forcing them into a routine or schedule that doesn’t suit them.
2. Preserving Dignity
Daily hygiene tasks become more of a challenge depending on a person’s age, medical condition(s), or potential memory loss. Home care aides are there to preserve clients’ dignity, supporting them with personal care services, which include dressing and changing, bathing, grooming, teeth brushing, denture care, and getting safely in and out of bed each day.
We also support safe transfers to and from the bathroom and other aspects of incontinence care as needed. This makes a world of difference in supporting your loved one’s overall wellbeing, confidence, and sense of self.
3. Affordability
We know that no price can be placed on high-quality care for the ones we love. That said, the cost of care is still a legitimate concern for many families. This is another arena where home care trumps facility-based options.
Each year, Genworth posts statistics comparing the cost of home care versus nursing home care to help clients create realistic long-term care plans.
Their most recent stats show that in New Jersey, 44 hours/week of home care costs $4950 per month, while nursing home care costs $11,250 per month for a semi-private room. In Florida, the average cost of a full-time caregiver (44 hours/week) costs around $4200, while nursing home fees run about $8700 per month for a semi-private room.
When you consider that home care is far more personalized and tailored to our clients, along with the difference in expense, home care services are exponentially more affordable than residential alternatives.
4. Better, more personalized care
Even the highest-caliber assisted living communities must tailor their services, offerings, and social events to “The Group.” This is better than nothing, but it also means that residents can be stripped of their personalized interests, hobbies, social groups, and so on. Instead, home care providers spend one-on-one time with clients, honoring their favorite activities, events, interests, and hobbies.
We get seniors out and about as often as requested, which supports much-needed social engagement and keeps the world more varied and exciting, rather than shrinking it into a predictable calendar. This is especially helpful for clients who are introverted by nature. The one-on-one attention from a caregiver keeps them engaged, while they may tend to retreat or fade into the background in a group setting.
And, because caregivers are there regularly, we have our finger on the pulse of our clients’ age-related changes, adapting care plans accordingly.
5. Support memory care
Does your loved one have Alzheimer’s or a dementia-related diagnosis? While many places advertise their commitment to memory care, our caregivers offer the same types of services, right in the comfort of our clients’ homes.
This includes:
- Nutritious meals and snacks to reduce inflammation and nourish the body and brain
- Regular exercise and physical activity to honor the circadian rhythm
- Activities that align with our client’s interests, including reading, conversation, reminiscence therapy, listening to music, playing puzzles and games, etc.
- Accompanying seniors on their everyday outings, religious/spiritual services, clubs and groups, and weekly social outings with friends, all of which stimulate neural connections and foster continued curiosity in the world around them
- Support healthy sleep routines to avoid sundowning and nighttime agitation
- Continuous supervision to prevent wandering
If wandering or sundowning/agitation is a concern, read more about our Live-In or Overnight Care service options.
6. Better nutrition
There is a distinct link between diet and preventing and slowing down dementia progression. Above and beyond any other dietary restrictions due to heart disease or type 2 diabetes, an increased focus on an anti-inflammatory diet has proven to reduce the symptoms of memory loss.
A recent post by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) states, “people who consumed an anti-inflammatory diet that includes more fruits, vegetables, beans, and tea or coffee, had a lower risk of developing dementia later in life.”
Our caregivers make sure your loved one is eating a steady diet of delicious, colorful meals and snacks rich in the foods that nourish their neurons and avoid processed, high-fat, and high-sugar ingredients.
7. Care you can trust
Between home security and automation systems such as Nest, WYZE, and Blink, as well as access to video chatting or Zoom visits, in-home care means you and your family can check in on loved ones and their caregivers regularly. It’s the best way to enjoy complete peace of mind.
Explore the Many Benefits of In-Home Care
Are you ready to discover more about how in-home care can benefit you and your aging family members?
Before you hire a home care agency, it’s important to explore your options. Knowing what to look for and what questions to ask potential providers is the first step in ensuring you make the best choice for your family.
