Choosing Assisted Living Versus In-Home Care in Dallas
Choosing Assisted Living Versus In-Home Care in Dallas
Have daily tasks become hard for your loved one? While some seniors may not need full-time skilled nursing care, you may notice they need help with tasks like bathing, dressing, or meals. In that case, many families turn to either assisted living communities or in-home care options.
The choices around the next stage of care for your loved one are complex. You want to consider his or her needs as well as the needs of your family. To help decide the best choice for your loved one, think about factors like cost, type of support, and social needs.
Discover the differences between the different senior care options available to your loved one.
Watch Now
Average costs of care
The cost of in-home care can vary greatly. Many providers charge an hourly rate. Others may have special rates by the day or for overnight senior care. If your loved one only needs a couple of hours of help per day, this might be the least expensive choice.
However, if your loved one needs a senior care provider most of the day, the costs can add up. According to Aging.com, daily rates for 24/7 in-home care can be $250-300 a day. If you need this type of care 20 days a month, it could cost as much as $6,000.
When it comes to assisted living, the cost also varies. It may depend on the location or the size of the senior living apartment you choose. According to a survey by Genworth in 2019, the average monthly cost in Texas was $3,750. If your loved one needs help most days, assisted living communities often makes the most financial sense.
Types of senior care services provided
In-home care offers help with daily tasks for a set amount of time each day. It’s important to note that in-home care is different than home health. In-home senior care providers aren’t there to provide nursing care. Some services provided might include:
• Bathing and grooming
• Dressing
• Preparing meals
• Household chores
• Toileting
• Medication management
Assisted living communities may offer different levels of senior care based on your loved one’s needs. These include many of the same tasks as in-home care. Like in-home care, assisted living is focused on daily living, not providing nursing care. However, it’s likely it will provide a few more services than in-home care. Some of these might include:
• Social activities
• Apartment repairs and maintenance
• Care of shared outdoor spaces and landscaping
• On-site game rooms, libraries, and more
• Utilities included
• Transportation
• Help nearby 24/7
Social factors
Another big factor in your decision is social well-being. In-home care can provide some companionship through daily care. Depending on the situation, it may also allow your loved one to live in the same home as family.
Our assisted living community provides social interaction in a different way. Residents often enjoy being around others in the same life stage. They also have many activities planned for them. The AARP says this social environment can benefit their overall well-being and health. Additionally, it may relieve some worries knowing there is always someone nearby.
Looking to the future
Finally, many families forget to think about the future. But your loved one’s care needs in the coming years are important. While in-home care may be right for a time, your loved one may eventually need more support.
One advantage of assisted living is access to a higher level of care when you need it. Many places, like Autumn Leaves, have senior services like skilled nursing right in the same senior living community. This can make any transitions for more care easier later on.
Want to know more about our assisted living community in Dallas, TX? Contact Autumn Leaves to find out all the ways we support your loved one.
