Understanding the cost of senior care can go a long way towards helping you making the right decisions for yourself or for a loved one. Most people underestimate these numbers, simply because they aren’t taking into account all the aspects of what senior care involves. Once you take a closer look at the information, you can feel more confident with a plan that best suits your family’s needs.
Right off the bat, many people assume that caring for an older adult at home would be less expensive than moving them to assisted living or memory care. And for those individuals who only need a small amount of assistance, that might be true, at least until their needs change. But for those who require 24-hour assistance with bathing, dressing, using the toilet, transferring from a chair to a bed, incontinence, and eating and drinking, home care can prove to be more expensive than a senior living community.
Take a look at these costs, according to a 2021 Genworth survey.
TYPE OF AT-HOME CARE | HOURLY RATE | MONTHLY ESTIMATE |
---|---|---|
Homemaker services | $21 | $15,120 |
Home health aide services | $22 | $15,840 |
CNA (medical) services | $17 | $12,240 |
LPN (medical) services | $27 | $19,400 |
If you’re contemplating a budget if your loved one stayed at home, don’t forget all the other expenses a well. Such as housekeeping, home repairs and maintenance, food and supplies, medications, modifying the home for safety, transportation to physicians and therapists, and more.
The cost of senior care isn’t just medical or health-related, it’s committing to 24-hour attention and assistance—whether that’s you, a family member, or caregivers you bring in to help. The physical and emotional stress can be overwhelming. And like so many things, the costs of senior care are rising, due to factors such as lack of labor, sicker patients, and wage pressures. It is estimated that 80% of home care comes from unpaid caregivers.
Senior living communities offer more care and housing options today than ever before. It truly can be a new beginning for a senior, offering not only the right amount of support and assistance, but a greater sense of independence, opportunities for safe socializing, freedom from home upkeep or other everyday worries, and so much more.
In other words, when you do your comparisons, you might decide that the right senior living is worth every penny.
Some senior living communities are located in parts of the country where costs are higher. Some are large, “big box” senior communities with large campuses and resort-style amenities. While it’s difficult to give an average cost of senior care, it is important to remember that you do have choices.
For example, Assured Senior Living stands apart by offering an intimate, residential-style setting for assisted living and memory care that genuinely feels like home—folding into a friendly neighborhood that residents can feel part of—and at a fraction of the cost of standard home care. With an outstanding staffing ratio of 1 to 4, residents are able to engage and thrive in the least restrictive environment. We would love to tell you more.
Our personalized care, home environment, and Montessori Activities program help our residents to keep their golden years golden.
Often the hardest part of doing something new is getting started, and that's especially true about exercise. This article from AARP makes it easy to get started with the most important exercise to help you age healthy: squats. Five or ten squats are easy to do while you wait for the coffee to brew or the microwave to finish heating.Even when we're healthy we sometimes need a little extra help with the house or errands. Visit our website at www.rosehillathome.com to learn more about how Rose Hill Stay-at-Home Services can help you or a loved one stay in independent and at home.
When it comes to caring for an older person, someone leaving hospital, or someone who has a disability, it can be difficult to know what resources are available to you. You may wonder if your loved one needs to enter a rehab facility, hospital, or nursing home or if they are eligible for home care services, allowing them to stay in familiar and comfortable surroundings.At ComForCare, we offer a range of flexible home care services to meet the needs of many people who could use a helping hand. If youre interested in learning whether home care could be right for your family, read on for some of the many ways we offer support in the home.In-Home Senior CareHome Care is a service that provides support for the day-to-day activities of living. Older adults who need a helping hand to stay on top of household duties, personal care, meal preparation, and similar activities are great candidates for home care services. An in-home caregiver can help older adults maintain their independence in the comfort and safety of a familiar space. Nearly 90% of adults over 65 want to age in place, staying in their homes and communities as long as possible. With in-home elderly care services, that dream can be a reality for many.Transitional CareWhen a loved one is moving from a hospital, rehabilitation center, or skilled nursing facility to home, providing a safe transition is crucial. Seniors are at an elevated risk of hospital readmission and other hazards after hospitalization. In fact, people ages 65 and over account for about 56% of 30-day readmissions after discharge from care facilities. Transitional care, otherwise known as short-term services, can help support seniors during this critical time. ComForCares professional caregivers are advocates for their clients health, and they can:Assist with personal care, such as bathing and groomingHelp implement discharge instructions from doctorsPick up prescriptions and provide medication remindersHelp schedule and attend follow-up medical appointmentsReduce fall and injury risks with home safety recommendationsRespite Care & Short-Term CareSometimes, older adults who live at home receive the care they need from family members. While this arrangement can be wonderful, it can also be taxing on their loved ones. Up to 35% of family caregivers rate their health as fair or poor, which can lead to burnout. To ensure that you are providing the best possible care for your family member, you need time to take care of yourself! Thats where respite and short-term care come in. Hiring a professional caregiver temporarily can give you the time you need to recharge, refresh, and resetwhether for a weeks vacation or just a weekend break. This service can also help provide a fresh perspective so you dont have to feel alone in the care and keeping of your loved one.Disability ManagementThough in-home care is most often associated with seniors, many adults with disabilities also need compassionate, hands-on care. Whether your loved ones disabilities are physical or cognitive, institutions cant always provide the kind of personalized one-on-one care that your family member needs.Advocates and researchers have seen the positive impact that home and community-based services make in the lives of people with disabilities. At ComForCare, our disability management services can help make that difference in your family members life. We provide care services including, but not limited to:Light housekeepingHelp with hygiene and incontinence careMeal preparationTransportation assistanceAlzheimer's and Dementia CareMany people believe that once an older person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, they cant live at home anymore. However, with ComForCares unique approach, DementiaWise, we can give older adults the freedom to remain at home as long as possible. With flexible scheduling, personalized care, and meaningful activities that keep your loved one engaged, calm, happy and utilizing their remaining abilities, you can rest assured that your family member is living their best life, physically and mentally.Find the Best Home Care ServiceNow that you know who a good candidate for home care services is, its time to find the best team to look after your loved one. At ComForCare, we continually strive to provide the most compassionate, consistent and competent care to those who need it. With flexible care options suited to each individuals needs, well care for your loved one like family. ComForCare: Long or Short-Term Home Care with Joy and Dignity. If you have any questions, please call 720-575-5576.
When it comes time for your parent to get more assistance at home with cleaning, personal care, cooking, etc., you might be met with some resistance, which can be frustrating. There are usually two main reasons older adults dont want extra help. Caregiving (in-home care) services may be perceived as a transition from the known to the unknown. Your parent could see this transition as irreversible; caregiving will happen whether they are ready or not and that their abilities will quickly decline until they are entirely dependent on someone else. These feelings can be overwhelming. As the adult child or caregiver, how can you inspire them to accept help? Frame caregiving services as a trial; convey that if they dont like it, they can try a different caregiver or try something else. Emphasize this and repeat it often. Continue to encourage your parent that they can remain as independent as possible if they have in-home care. Another approach is to compromise: instead of eight hours of caregiving services each day, try a few hours a week. The second major reason is that many seniors dont feel the need to fritter their life savings away on expensive care options, while the adult child feels that in-home care is the best use of their savings. Explain that their savings and caregiving services are to ensure good quality of life and dignity as they age. Those saved dollars, in other words, are fulfilling their intended purpose. How to Become Your Parents CaregiverThere may be times where you need to step in as your parents caregiver. Planning, communication and inclusion are key to making the transition easier. When forming a plan for caregiving, try to stick to your loved ones current routine to ease them into the adjustment. Dont forget to communicate the plan, and its occasional required deviation, often and openly. Always include your parent, provide options and choices, and allow them to make the final decision if possible. The golden rule is to be involved only in ways that enhance and enable your parent to preserve their remaining abilities and intervene only in ways that provide support as they lose abilities. For example, if your older loved one finds walking difficult, instead of bringing everything to them, add accessibility options such as handrails and encourage exercise and fall prevention strategies to strengthen their muscles and balance. As your parent ages, you may need to increase your duties as their primary caregiver. You may need to gauge your own comfort level with certain tasks, as well as your overall burnout level. For example, you may not feel comfortable helping your parent with showering. This is where professional respite care comes in. This allows you to retain the position as the primary caregiver and receive help from a home care company. Respite care is most effective when used to unburden the adult child; removing tasks and worries so you can focus on the special moments and deepen the connection you have with your loved one. Getting your parent to accept care is achievable with proper expectation setting, giving them choices, and keeping them involved in the decisions as you go. If you have questions about home care, please review our Resources page or call with any questions 970-575-5576. Our goal is to help seniors and their families live their best lives possible.
MEMORY CARE WITH A MISSION - LOVE IT'S WHAT WE DO! Maybe youve already sampled the typical memory care routeonly to find your concerns were more than founded. Instead of thriving, your loved one declineddeprived of the love, comfort, and consideration they once enjoyed. Isnt there a better way? you wondered, hopeful a new path might emerge?Your decision to transition your loved one into memory care wasnt made lightly. You acted out of selfless love knowing you could no longer provide the level of daily care they needed to remain safe and independent in their own home. Still, the thought of watching your once-vibrant loved one fading, locked away to stare at the walls in the dreary institution, makes your heartache. No one should be forced to choose between a loved ones safety and quality of life. Your decision to transition your loved one into memory care wasnt made.At Assured Senior Living, you can be assured of our quality care in a safe, secure environment, as well as peace of mind knowing your family member will receive the comprehensive services, personal care, and emotional support he or she needs, 24 hours a day. (*Including awake staff). Our innovative program provides the structure and routine needed to ensure feelings of security and certainty in day-to-day life. Please call for a personal tour of how Assured Senior Living can meet your loved one's unique needs.
MEMORY CARE WITH A MISSION - LOVE IT'S WHAT WE DO! Maybe youve already sampled the typical memory care routeonly to find your concerns were more than founded. Instead of thriving, your loved one declineddeprived of the love, comfort, and consideration they once enjoyed. Isnt there a better way? you wondered, hopeful a new path might emerge?Your decision to transition your loved one into memory care wasnt made lightly. You acted out of selfless love knowing you could no longer provide the level of daily care they needed to remain safe and independent in their own home. Still, the thought of watching your once-vibrant loved one fading, locked away to stare at the walls in the dreary institution, makes your heartache. No one should be forced to choose between a loved ones safety and quality of life. Your decision to transition your loved one into memory care wasnt made.At Assured Senior Living, you can be assured of our quality care in a safe, secure environment, as well as peace of mind knowing your family member will receive the comprehensive services, personal care, and emotional support he or she needs, 24 hours a day. (*Including awake staff). Our innovative program provides the structure and routine needed to ensure feelings of security and certainty in day-to-day life. Please call for a personal tour of how Assured Senior Living can meet your loved one's unique needs.
MEMORY CARE WITH A MISSION - LOVE IT'S WHAT WE DO! Maybe youve already sampled the typical memory care routeonly to find your concerns were more than founded. Instead of thriving, your loved one declineddeprived of the love, comfort, and consideration they once enjoyed. Isnt there a better way? you wondered, hopeful a new path might emerge?Your decision to transition your loved one into memory care wasnt made lightly. You acted out of selfless love knowing you could no longer provide the level of daily care they needed to remain safe and independent in their own home. Still, the thought of watching your once-vibrant loved one fading, locked away to stare at the walls in the dreary institution, makes your heartache. No one should be forced to choose between a loved ones safety and quality of life. Your decision to transition your loved one into memory care wasnt made.At Assured Senior Living, you can be assured of our quality care in a safe, secure environment, as well as peace of mind knowing your family member will receive the comprehensive services, personal care, and emotional support he or she needs, 24 hours a day. (*Including awake staff). Our innovative program provides the structure and routine needed to ensure feelings of security and certainty in day-to-day life. Please call for a personal tour of how Assured Senior Living can meet your loved one's unique needs.