Is Assisted Living Better Than Care at Home?

The aging of our loved ones is inevitable. There comes a time in everyone’s life when living independently and carrying out daily activities can become overwhelming. While you may want to help your loved one out, it may not be possible to do so in a consistent manner without compromising the quality of care. An assisted living home option, however, can make this easier for both your loved one and you. Assisted living communities provide a great quality of life and guarantee the comfort and care that your loved one may need. More than 835,000 Americans are currently residing in assisted living communities. Assisted living at the Mission at Agua Fria enables you to grow old with dignity by providing the desired amount of assistance so that your loved ones can still retain independence. If you’re wondering if assisted living works better than caring for the seniors at home, here’s a guide to help you decide which option will be best for your loved one.

What Is Home Care?

This option allows the senior to stay at home and use the services of a paid caregiver who can help with a variety of activities, such as moving around in the house, getting dressed, having meals on time, and going for medical appointments. The biggest advantage of care at home is the ability to provide a tailormade care program addressing the specific needs of the senior. For instance, some may need care only during the day while some may need it around the clock. However, the costs of caring at home are often significantly higher. As per a survey conducted by the National Private Duty Association in 2008, home health services cost $22.37 per hour on average. The costs also go up depending on the needs of the senior, making it prohibitively expensive in the long run. Moreover, while the family members get to choose the caregiver, it also means that they need to have time to manage the caregiver and provide instructions. In the event the appointed caregiver takes time off, the family members are responsible for looking for a replacement. Lastly, caring at home can lead to social isolation, as the elderly person remains confined to a particular place. This can cause a host of mental health issues, such as depression and cognitive dissonance.

Why Assisted Living Is a Better Option?

Assisted living, as the name suggests, offers a helping hand when your loved one needs it. The overall independence is never compromised, enhancing the quality of life of the senior and allowing them to age safely. The key benefits of assisted living option are as follows:

Minimized social isolation

Humans are social beings. Regardless of our age, we all crave the company of other humans. Feeling isolated is one of the most common complaints associated with home care. In contrast, assisted living allows seniors to interact with other people their age and experience meaningful relationships with them. Most assisted living homes conduct numerous activities, such as fitness classes or painting workshops, that allow the residents to feel connected to the rest of the community.

Personalized Care

Aging is a dynamic process. Each stage of aging requires a different level of care and compassion. Assisted living ensures that around-the-clock care is available to suit the needs of the elderly. The care plan is reviewed regularly to make appropriate changes as per the requirements. While some seniors may only need assistance with some basic chores, some may need more handholding to navigate through the day. Assistance with tasks such as medication management, daily hygiene, and dressing are available. Experienced caregivers in assisted living communities empower seniors through compassionate care.

Round the clock safety

One of the biggest advantages of choosing assisted living over care at home is safety and security. Making a home safe for an older adult requires additional effort. For instance, you may need to widen the doorways, install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower to provide extra support, or even install motion-detecting lights in the hallways to ensure optimum safety for your loved ones. On the other hand, assisted living communities have been designed to keep in mind the measures required for maintaining seniors’ safety and security. Senior-friendly housing is equipped with sophisticated monitoring equipment and security systems, and the 24/7 presence of qualified professionals in assisted living communities ensures your loved one never feels unsafe.

More time to enjoy a better quality of life

Assisted living communities take care of all basic needs—cooking, cleaning, and even making the bed—residents don’t have to worry because these tasks are completed by staff. This allows residents to have more time to use to pursue a hobby or strike up a conversation with fellow residents and explore common interests. Many assisted living home options also offer a host of amenities and recreational activities on-site, such as solariums, beauty salons, gyms, movie theaters, game rooms, and outdoor paths. Enrichment programs, such as daily meditation and yoga sessions, are also conducted to stimulate the intellectual and spiritual needs of the residents. Some of these communities are pet friendly, giving older adults a chance to spend some quality time with their furry friends and enjoy their companionship. Choosing assisted living is the right step toward improving the overall quality of life and enjoying every minute of it. Are you considering an assisted living option for your loved one or yourself? We hope you’ll consider the Mission at Agua Fria apartments in your search. Our senior housing facility offers 59 studio and one-bedroom assisted living apartments. When it comes to assisted living, we understand there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—that’s why we work out a tailormade care plan as per each resident’s needs and wants so that your loved one can truly benefit from our program. We’re committed to providing the best care possible and making our residents feel at home right from the beginning. If you want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Give us a call or visit our website.