It can be hard to decide what type of care would be best for your elderly loved one when they start getting to the point in their lives where they are needing some additional assistance with daily living. That’s why it’s important to do your research and to assess the pros and cons of different types of elderly care services, such as nursing home care and home care services. Therefore, here are some of pros and cons of both nursing home care and home care to consider so that you can determine which one you think is the best fit for your senior family member: Is Home Care Better Than Nursing Homes?
Pros & Cons of Nursing Home Care:
Pros:
- Nursing home facilities usually include a mix of medical specialists as a part of the facility staff. These medical professionals can help to provide 24/7 care for your loved one, and they are capable of doing both medical and non-medical tasks.
- Elderly residents at nursing homes are generally invited to participate in regular activities, such as games, crafts, movies, and outings. This can allow your loved one to interact with others and to form friendships. Whereas living at home may potentially limit your loved one’s ability to meet new people and to make new friends.
- For elders who have Alzheimer’s or dementia and are prone to wandering, nursing homes can help to keep them safe and secure. There tend to be strict security and monitoring systems in place in order to prevent elderly residents from leaving or getting lost somewhere.
Cons:
- Nursing homes take away a person’s independence. What’s more, because your loved one is bound by the nursing home’s rules and routine, that means they are unable to make their own decisions when it comes to things such as eating, bathing, and other activities. A nursing home, however, may also be the best option in some cases if your loved one can no longer be left by themselves.
- Nursing homes also require an adjustment period for residents before they feel like it’s “home,” which can be difficult for some seniors. Transitioning to living in a nursing home can be distressing and disruptive to elderly people’s lives, seeing as a new place, a new routine, and unfamiliar faces can incite a lot of worry, stress, and uncertainty for seniors.
- Nursing home care is extremely expensive, especially when it comes to high-quality and/or specialized facilities or services.
- Your elderly loved one will receive care from many different people everyday and throughout each day due to shift changes and personnel changes at the nursing home, meaning residents may feel like the quality of care and communication regarding their health is inconsistent or varying.
- Your senior family member is more likely to develop a bond and trust with a single caregiver if they utilize home care services. However, in a nursing home setting, they will be treated and assisted by many different types of people, making it harder for them to form trust and bonds with nursing home caregivers.
Pros & Cons of Home Care:
Pros:
- More one-on-one attention with the caregiver is possible with home care services. Your senior loved one will receive undivided attention from the nurse or home health aide who is assisting them at home, which will make it easier for them to form trust and bonds with them, and for them to get consistent and quality care.
- Home care services are beneficial since they’re individually-tailored to your loved one’s personal needs, whether it be medical care or non-medical care.
- Seniors are able to be as self-sufficient as possible rather than being forced to entrust fundamental activities to nursing home staff. They have full control over what and when they eat, bathing, and other everyday activities.
- Seniors are able to receive the care they need in the comfort of their own homes. This helps to lessen the stress and distress that seniors can feel when forced to transition to receiving elder care services. It also allows them to stay in contact with family and friends more as well.
- In-home care is almost always less expensive than nursing home care.
Cons:
- Seniors’ personal homes may not be as secure or safe as nursing homes are, meaning that your elderly loved ones will have to be careful and do their best to maintain a secure home.
- Who you choose for in-home care services is absolutely vital. If more than basic assistance is needed for your loved one, then hiring a skilled nurse or other type of medical professional may be necessary. Finding a good match for your loved one is critical for ensuring that they are getting the care and attention they need.
If you think that in-home care services could be a good fit for your senior family member, then don’t hesitate to contact Pinnacle Home Care to receive the best home care in Minneapolis MN.
