If you want to stay in your own home as you age instead of moving into a facility, in-home care makes it possible. With in-home care, you keep living where you are and the help comes to you, on your schedule. As the Baby Boomer population ages and more people need a hand with daily living, this is the alternative growing families are turning to, especially with nursing home costs expected to keep climbing.
What in-home care covers
A growing number of home-care companies means it’s easier than ever to match a companion to your specific needs. Service levels flex to fit your life:
- Around-the-clock care for higher needs
- A few days a week for chores and errands
- Daytime-only help with meals, dressing, bathing, getting in and out of chairs, and personal matters
A home companion handles the time-consuming daily tasks, which frees you to spend your hours how you want.
In-home care vs assisted living
The biggest difference is freedom. Assisted living ties you to scheduled activities and prearranged meals. In-home care lets you set your own schedule. You decide when to volunteer, see family and friends, catch a movie, exercise, or go shopping, and you eat what you want, when you want it.
Care that changes as you do
The arrangement isn’t fixed. The amount and type of help can grow or shrink as your needs change. Even with declining health, you can stay in your own home if that’s what you choose. That desire for independence is exactly what’s driving the trend toward in-home care.
If you’re weighing your options, a quick assessment can show what level of help makes sense and match you with the right companion.