Comparing in-home care with care in a nursing home in the DMV Area
Advantages and disadvantages of in-home care vs a nursing home
Choosing between home care and a nursing home can be a difficult choice to make, as both are available options, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. The decision ultimately depends on the individual's needs, preferences, and also financial situation. Here are some factors to consider when faced with this decision:
Level of care needed: Nursing homes are set up to provide round-the-clock personal and medical care. While in-home caregivers, working in shifts, can also deliver assistance with personal care and ADL's up to 24rs a day, they generally do not provide medical care such that home care may be less suitable for those with frequent or complex medical needs. In addition, nursing homes can offer different levels of care, such as standard care or specialized care for individuals with specific medical conditions.
Comprehensive nature of care: Nursing homes will be able to provide a more comprehensive approach to care than can be achieved through in home care alone. Physical activity programs, access to physical therapy and rehabilitation services may be accessible in residential facilities and for many these can help maintain health and slow physical decline.
Loss of independence and privacy: Moving into a nursing home can bring about a significant loss of independence for individuals. Relinquishing control of day to day decisions such as meals, activities and schedules as well as a reduced sense of privacy through sharing dining and other living spaces with other residents can have a considerable emotional and psychological impact.
Personalized attention: In-home caregivers provide one-to-one attention to the care recipient in their own home allowing care to be personalized and tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the care recipient. In contrast, caregivers in institutions will have many residents to care for and their attention may be spread thin. The working practices of the nursing home also mean all residents are likely to get a similar experience with less opportunity for personalization.
Cost of care: The cost of care is also an important factor to consider. In general, home care is less expensive than nursing home care, but this may vary depending on the level of care required and the location. We will look at cost in more detail below.
Comfort and socialization: For many individuals, staying in their own home can provide comfort and familiarity, which can be important for emotional well-being. However, others who feel isolated or lonely at home may find greater comfort in the company of other residents at a nursing home. Home care can provide valued companionship but not replicate the resident community of a nursing home.
Weighing these factors is not easy. Start by considering the minimal amount of care, personal and medical, that you or your loved one needs now, or will need in the near future, to stay safe and comfortable. Can this be provided at home? Talk to local Home Care Agencies or to a managed home care company like OndeCare to answer that question. If both are possible, consider which type of care is likely to best support and maintain the individual's physical and emotional wellbeing. Visit local nursing homes and ask questions about how they promote physical wellness, about their social programs and how they maintain resident's privacy and dignity, as well as about staffing and quality of care. Finally, weigh all of these factors in the light of the individual's emotional needs and preferences. Talk to them about what it is they want most at this stage of life and discuss which, care in their own home or in a nursing home, comes closest to providing it.
Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland In‑Home Care from OndeCare
- recreational activities
- personal care
- meal preparation
- medication reminders
- + 18 more
- light housekeeping
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- incontinence care
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- light housekeeping
- socialization/entertainment
- companionship
- bathing/dressing
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- incontinence care
- light housekeeping
- + 18 more
- light housekeeping
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- catheter care
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- socialization/entertainment
- house cleaning
- medication reminders
- meal preparation
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- errands/excursions
- companionship
- bathing/dressing
- doctors visits
- + 10 more
- errands/excursions
- medication reminders
- companionship
- catheter care
- + 20 more
- incontinence care
- catheter care
- transferring/positioning
- socialization/entertainment
- + 15 more
- house cleaning
- recreational activities
- personal care
- errands/excursions
- + 21 more
- memory care
- mobility assistance
- medication reminders
- companionship
- + 15 more
- house cleaning
- meal preparation
- bathing/dressing
- mobility assistance
- + 9 more
- bathing/dressing
- house cleaning
- meal preparation
- companionship
- + 5 more
- socialization/entertainment
- safety/fall protection
- recreational activities
- light housekeeping
- + 14 more
What is the cost of in-home care vs cost of a nursing home ?
According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2021, the national median cost for adult in-home care is $27.50 per hour for a home health aide, while the median cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home is $7,441 per month. Essentially, in-home care is less expensive than nursing home care until the daily hours of care needed roughly exceeds 8 to 9 hours each day.
However, the cost of both in-home care and nursing homes do vary depending on several factors. These include location, level and number of hours of personal or medical care provided, additional amenities such as a private room, dining options and recreational activities offered by the nursing home, as well as specialized care services and staffing levels. Insurance coverage, such as Medicare or private insurance (e.g., long term care insurance), can help cover the cost of both nursing homes and home care depending on the policy and coverage. The extent of coverage can impact the out-of-pocket cost for individuals.
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