Evaluating the Benefits of Home Care vs Assisted Living Facilities
The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly everyone’s daily life in the world and the senior community has been hit especially hard due to their increased risk of contracting the very contagious virus.
The pandemic has placed a heavy toll on Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes which is not surprising as many residents are elderly and may have physical or mental limitations and/or suffer from serious chronic conditions.
At Seniors Helping Seniors®, we understand your #1 priority is the health and safety of your loved ones and it is our priority as well. Considering the risks of communal living; home care may be a more beneficial alternative for keeping your loved ones safe.
In the United States, Assisted Living Facilities offer the allure of enjoying the “golden years” in resort style living. They have beautiful common areas with luxurious lobbies and dining rooms. They offer daily activities, entertainment, and even daily happy hours! However, when all is said and done, few residents, for one reason or another, neither have the desire or ability to enjoy this “lifestyle”. And now, as a result of this global pandemic we have realized that this communal living setting has fallen short of their expectations and have become extremely dangerous and even deadly!
In an effort at keeping their residents safe and prevent the spread of the virus, many Assisted Living Facilities have closed common areas and are keeping residents confined to their rooms; serving meals in their rooms and postponing or altering group activities for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, they are enforcing strict visitor restrictions and family members and friends are not able to have physical contact with their loved ones.
With all these concerns, many families are reconsidering their decision of placing their loved ones at a facility and instead are studying the possibility of taking them home with help from the family or a home care agency, or both.
Keep these benefits in mind when choosing living arrangements for your loved ones and consider whether in-home care is a more suitable and beneficial option for their care:
- Loved ones prefer the comfort of their own home. Older adults may feel safer and more comfortable staying at home, whether with relatives or with visits from a trusted and familiar caregiver.
- Caregivers provide companionship. Being confined to a house can get lonely. A caregiver visit generates conversation and provides stimulating activities, essential during this anxious time. A caregiver can also bring a sense of calm and stability.
- Caregivers can go grocery shopping or run other errands. This allows older adults to stay home and avoid crowds.
- Caregivers can prepare nutritious meals, assist with organizing paperwork and paying bills, keeping the house tidy, assuring medication compliance and driving seniors to doctors’ appointments.
- In-home caregivers are often the first to notice any changes in the health of the seniors they are caring for and as a result, they are able to help them seek care earlier and helping minimize hospital admissions.
- By following safety protocols, caregivers can greatly assist vulnerable seniors to safely quarantine when necessary.
Senior Helping Seniors is here for you and your loved ones and we hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy during these difficult times!
Whether your loved one needs companionship, transportation, medication reminders, cooking or shopping, at Seniors Helping Seniors we can help them with these and other services and put your mind at ease. Call us today at 954-202-5000 or complete this convenient form to set up a personal consultation and learn more about us.