When you or a loved one starts to need care, whether that’s from an illness, injury, or just the typical effects of aging, you have two main types of care to choose from. They can either continue living at home, or perhaps move into the home of a family member, and receive care there, or they can move into a senior living facility, such as independent living or assisted living.
To help you make this decision for yourself or your loved one, here are some of the main differences and the benefits of each.
Home care for seniors
Some seniors prefer to stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own home rather than move into a retirement community or assisted living. In this case, a family member may provide the care they need, whether that’s around-the-clock care or just occasional support with things like chores and money management. Or, the other option is to hire a professional carer to visit their home for care provision, whether that’s daily or just once a week, for example.
One of the advantages of this is that it is less of a dramatic change and allows seniors to stay in a place that feels like home to them. However, not everyone has a family member who can take care of them, particularly if they require around-the-clock care. This can put a lot of pressure on family members, who have their own daily responsibilities to think about. The alternative of in-home carers can be a good option for some, but can become expensive for those needing extensive care.
Senior living communities
There are a variety of senior living care options, most of which can be categorized as either independent living or assisted living. Although these require moving home and facing a lot of change, they ensure that seniors get the amount of care and support that they need and take some pressure off family members who might otherwise feel obligated to uproot their lives to provide care.
In senior living communities, seniors can receive quality, professional care, they can retain their independence as much as possible, they can socialize easily with fellow residents, and they have a variety of provisions, amenities, and facilities on-hand. An upside of assisted living, in particular, is that the level of care they receive can be adapted as their needs change. This means that dementia patients, for example, won’t need to move again as their condition and symptoms progress.
To find out more about assisted living and whether it’s right for you or a loved one, contact Brookstone of Woodruff for information about our assisted living community and care options in Woodruff, SC.