Seniors are living longer. The wealth of healthcare support makes aging gracefully a reality. As the elderly get older, many require additional care. An extra hand provides seniors with the help they need to maintain dignity while aging.

Community care and home care are two options seniors can turn to for additional support. While both forms of care provide additional help, differences between the two exist.

Flexibility in Duration

Home care allows the senior to reside at home while being supported by an in-home caregiver. The caregiver can be short-term or long-term, depending on the needs of the care recipient. In-home care is flexible, with caregivers arriving onsite as needed. An afternoon shift once a week is common, as is caregiving services over a period of several months.

Community care, such as adult day care, is also flexible. An individual recovering from a recent surgery may require constant supervision and healthcare. An adult day care provides onsite nursing care to address medical issues. Once the senior has recovered, he or she can return home to resume an independent lifestyle.

Familiarity and Ease

The value of home care is that the senior has the opportunity to live within the familiarity and comfort of home. The individual continues to live in a well-known setting and has immediate access to cherished items, such as photos or a favorite armchair.

Maneuvering through the home is a simple task when the senior is accustomed to where the hallways lead and where the bedroom is. A familiar surrounding is key. Seniors with chronic conditions, like dementia, that affect memory will feel frustration with new settings.

The downside to community care is a lack of familiarity. A long period of adjustment to the new surroundings and unfamiliar staff is a challenge the senior undergoes when being admitted to a community care program. Once the senior becomes accustomed to the new setting and achieves rapport with staff, the living situation becomes tolerable. However, the familiarity of home is irreplaceable.

Socialization Outlets

Human contact is important for seniors. Isolation and loneliness tend to plague seniors, even if they live at home. The benefit of home care is that a professional caregiver provides invaluable companionship.

The caregiver will keep the senior’s mind alert through card games and puzzles. Professional caregivers also engage in conversation with the goal of developing relationships. Seniors with compassionate in-home caregivers can talk about hobbies and interests; pleasant discussions offer a sense of emotional well-being to elderly individuals.

Community care also allows for socialization. Seniors are constantly surrounded by nurses, staff and other senior residents. The elderly individuals have daily opportunities to interact in a group environment, which prevents the social isolation that often depresses many older people.

Financial Management

When a senior resides at home, the individual is responsible for paying bills to upkeep the home. A trusted in-home caregiver can help a senior manage bills, especially if the older individual lives alone.

Maintaining the home also requires repairing or replacing what is broken, which can be a challenge for a senior who lives alone. Home maintenance is not a duty of caregivers. In such scenarios, family members will have to jump in to manage home repairs.

In a community care setting, the primary responsibility is financing the care itself. Household bills and home maintenance are no longer a burden with community care. The senior lives in an elder care facility, which is fully maintained.

Physical Activity

Exercise is an important part of the senior’s healthcare regime. An in-home caregiver can accompany a senior on walks or transport the individual to exercise classes. Seniors usually feel safer when they know a caregiver is nearby and, as a result, feel more at ease when moving around the home.

A community care center also offers plenty of opportunities for exercise. Recreational activities and exercise classes are offered throughout the week, giving seniors several options to stay active.

Frequency of Care

Home care offers compassionate care for as long as needed. A caregiver can work a 24-hour shift or offer live-in caregiving services. In such scenarios, the care recipient is continually supervised. Families who hire a caregiver for a few hours a week, however, will be left with a large gap in care.

The amount of supervision in a senior’s care is critical, especially when the individual suffers from a debilitating condition, like stroke or Alzheimer’s disease. Seniors with severe conditions should never be left alone.

In a community care setting, healthcare employees work each shift daily. As a result, the senior has access to quality medical care around the clock. Physical therapists, registered nurses, social workers and health care aides are regularly on staff in a community care facility to accommodate the healthcare needs of seniors.

When your family opts for in-home care, choose Assisting Hands Home Care. The senior care agency offers a wide range of in-home, personal care services to support your loved one throughout the aging process.

Examples of routine, elder care services include personal care, such as toileting, dressing, bathing and grooming. In-home caregivers also provide assistance with a variety of common tasks, including grocery shopping, meal preparation and light housekeeping.

The Assisting Hands Home Care caregivers also transport seniors to doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions and social outings. Companionship is also a big part of a caregiver’s services. Care recipients and caregivers play board games, cards, complete puzzles and engage in conversation to keep the senior’s mind stimulated and free from feelings of isolation.

Assisting Hands Home Care retains a staff of licensed, bonded and insured caregivers. Every caregiver on our team is skilled, experienced and trained to handle caregiving tasks efficiently. The management team at Assisting Hands Home Care works with families to develop a customized care plan to meet the individual needs of the care recipient. Families know their loved one is compassionately cared for with the dependable services offered by Assisting Hands Home Care.