It can be stressful when it becomes clear that a loved one needs more care than you or other family members can provide. Often the initial signs are small and subtle, but eventually they come at you faster and it becomes more obvious that your loved one needs help to remain safe and healthy.
Most of us naturally gravitate toward the notion of “aging in place.” The idea of staying in our home is comforting — and it works (for a while). Eventually, most of us will need professional care to be safe and live our best lives. That’s when the decision point arrives: Should I or my loved one consider in-home care or should we begin looking at care homes? What’s the difference, and what are the pros and cons? What does in-home care look like? Is it the same as home health care? How is the care provided in a care home different?
In-home care refers to personal or health care services received in the home. It can include companion care, personal care, and/or skilled nursing services. According to The National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, 70% of adults ages 65 and older will need some long-term care services, such as help with activities of daily living (ADLs) — like bathing and dressing, or skilled nursing care. This means the majority of older adults will need help at some point, either in the home or in a care facility of some kind.
Home health care on the other hand, is a level of care that must be prescribed by a doctor. It includes the management of medical needs and conditions, like wound and catheter care, and administering medications and injections. These services must be performed by a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed professional nurse (LPN) supervised by an RN. They are often not covered by insurance and can therefore become very expensive.
Care Homes: The best of both worlds
A good care home, like Legacy Care Home, can provide the best of both worlds. When well run by caring, compassionate, and competent staff, they provide a home atmosphere that offers companionship, help with daily needs, and basic medical care from home health aides. Some, like Legacy Home Care, even have nurses on staff to provide a higher level of care.
But care homes should not be confused with nursing homes. Nursing homes are more akin to medical facilities and therefore have a more “institutional” feel. Think more “nursing" and less “home."
Legacy Care Home: The best of the best
Our approach at Legacy Care Home is to operate in the sweet spot. We provide a home-like atmosphere where residents are engaged and cared for all day, everyday. Whereas in-home care operates based on an hourly rate, we have a flat monthly charge. That means our residents are cared for around the clock. On the other hand, in-home care is often far too expensive to provide more than a few hours of care daily, which means loved ones often need to cover the remainder of the day (and night). Simply put, at high quality care home, you can be a daughter, son, granddaughter, grandson, or other caring family member again — without having to be the primary caregiver.
You see, we provide basic medical care to our residents without additional fees. Our staff are trained to administer medications, check vital signs, monitor and manage chronic conditions, and more. They even receive special training on Alzheimers and dementia. We have RNs on staff for a higher level of care when it’s needed, and we even have a visiting primary care provider. Finally, we can arrange for specialists to come onsite to see residents in person so they don’t need to go out for appointments like they would at home.
Most importantly, at Legacy Care Home we work hard to create a sense of community. Many of our residents become friends with one another, and they develop a sense of kinship with our staff. They are engaged in daily activities that provide mental stimulation, which is vital for maintaining cognitive function and memory.
So, when your loved one begins to exhibit signs that they need more care than you can provide, we encourage you to carefully evaluate all of your options. In the end, we think you’ll find that a quality care home like LCH is best for residents, families, and finances.
