If you’re like the majority of Seniors, you probably want to live in your own home for as long as possible. You like your feeling of independence, and want to remain independent as long as possible. The thought of paying for an Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Facility makes your heart sink. But at the same time, you know you’re requiring a little more help each day that passes, and you worry about burdening your children, friends, and family with those activities of daily living (ADL’s) that you need assistance with. Those activities could be small things like house cleaning, laundry, preparing meals, or even grocery shopping. Or they may be more personal care services like dressing, bathing, or assistance with medications. These things can become increasingly difficult for some Seniors, and asking for help can feel like your independence is actually being taken away, but that is not the case at all. Havenwood provides Seniors with non-medical in-home care and companionship. You keep your independence and your house. In-home care professionals come to you. And with 78 million baby boomers starting to retire at a rate of 8,000 a day, the demand for in-home care will only increase.
Why In-Home Care?
One survey shows that 90% of Seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible. Your home is where you’re comfortable. It’s what is familiar. It provides comfort. If you move out to an assisted living community or nursing home, you’re starting over. With in-home care, you’re able to remain as independent as you can be.
For example, you have hip replacement surgery. And instead of heading to a nursing home for care, you go back home, where a physical therapist helps you recover, and a home health aide helps you dress, and bathe. Those Home Health services, when medically necessary and ordered by a Physician, are covered by Medicare and Private Insurance. But you may need some additional, just as equally important help. Such as preparing your meals while you recover, or a home care aide to tend to your home until you can. The surroundings are yours. You sleep in your bed. All of this familiarity can help with your recovery.
One study found that those who received in-home care visited the doctor 25% fewer times than those that didn’t receive in-home care. Clients with Alzheimer’s or other dementia diseases, made almost 50% less trips to the doctor.
So what are the costs of Home care in comparison to Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Facilities?
If you’re weighing the pros and cons of in-home care, here are some numbers to consider. According to The 2012 Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey, these are the national averages for senior care:
- Nursing Homes average $222 a day for a private room; $200 for a semi-private room.
- Assisted living facilities (‘typically include at least two meals per day, housekeeping, and personal care assistance, were obtained for one-bedroom apartments or private rooms with private baths in assisted living communities.’) average $3,300 a month.
- In-Home Care averages $19 an hour for health aides; $18 an hour for homemaker/companion. Additionally, 82% of home health care agencies provide Alzheimer’s training to their employees and 99% don’t charge an additional fee for patients with Alzheimer’s. Most home care services require a minimum of 4 hours so the minimum cost’ is $76 /day.
In-home care can certainly be a lower cost solution to assisted living depending on the kind of care you need, and how many daily hours you need this care.