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| Lack of support can lead to isolation. |
Choosing where an aging
parent will live is one of the most difficult and emotional decisions many of
us will ever have to make. Eighty-five percent of seniors want to remain in
their own homes, known as “aging in place.” They might live in the only home they’ve
known for years, maybe where they shared a life with a spouse or even where
they raised a family. They feel comfortable in familiar surroundings and want
to hold on to their memories.
Among the 15 percent of
seniors who respond they don’t want to stay at home, reasons may include
isolation, a reduced quality of life and possible economic hardship. Most baby
boomers grew up in auto-dependent suburbs in the postwar era, and that’s where
many of them have stayed, according to StreetsBlogUSA.
If the time comes when
you have to decide where a loved one will live, these three important
considerations make a great starting point.
Convenience
Regardless of where a
senior resides, true quality of life requires social interaction. Isolation can
contribute to malnutrition, lack of proper health care, financial problems and
more. Often, a senior tries to hide these problems because she doesn’t want her
family to think she’s no longer independent.
Residents of assisted
living facilities and nursing homes have opportunities on site for daily
interaction, social programs and other amenities. Seniors who stay in their own
homes need a support network of family, friends or neighbors who can provide
companionship and transportation to grocery stores, doctors appointments, and
recreational outings. With this kind of support, it’s possible your parent can
live at home safely and comfortably, where he has control of his quality of
life and independence.
Read more about
solutions to senior malnutrition:
Safety
Peace of mind often is
an influential factor in choosing where an aging parent will live. We don’t
want to think about mom or dad experiencing a fall, especially when all alone.
We of course want safety monitoring, 24-hour access to emergency communication,
and to know they’re getting proper nutrition and personal care.
If a loved one isn’t
ready to move into an assisted living or nursing home facility, it’s necessary
to find the right tools and support network to make living at home a success.
By incorporating certain design principles, telecare and monitoring, and
assistive tools and support, our loved ones can enjoy the health and well being
that come with having a choice in care and living arrangements.
Here’s a starting point:
Cost
Let’s look at the cost
of in-home care vs. an assisted living facility or nursing home. The cost per
hour of in-home care is $9 per hour at the low end. At this rate, it would cost
approximately $274 monthly for one hour of care per day, and $6,570 for 24-hour
care at that rate. At the average cost of in-home care, $19 per hour, it would
cost about $578 per month for one hour a day and $13,870 per month for 24-hour
care. At the high end, $30 per hour, annual costs range from $913 for one hour
per day to $21,900 for around-the-clock care.
Monthly
Cost of In-Home Care
Hours per day
|
$9/hour
|
National
average $19/hour
|
$30/hour
|
24
|
$6,570
|
$13,870
|
$21,900
|
12
|
$3,285
|
$6,935
|
$10,950
|
1
|
$274
|
$578
|
$913
|
Now let’s look at 2014
costs for assisted living facilities and nursing homes, according to data
provided by Genworth Financial. In Wisconsin, the state median cost for a
private, one-bedroom unit in an assisted living facility is $3,850 per month.
Median nursing home costs are $7,280 per month for a semi-private room and
$8,121 per month for a private room.
To determine your
break-even point, estimate how many hours per day care is needed for a loved
one and the hourly cost of your in-home care provider, then compare to the
median monthly costs for your state using the Genworth tool. Be sure to check
out this article explaining the types of care options and how to start a
housing search: What If You Had a Week to Find a Place to Live?
No one looks forward to
the day she has to make this decision. But today’s technology, product
innovations and community support may allow you to push back this day for
years.
About
The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their
loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information
about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of
Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web
site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most
important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to
prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for
incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The
CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wis. Visit
http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353. Help
support this ad-free blog by answering several questions about caregiving here.
It will take just two minutes.
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Watch this video on choosing an in-home care agency.
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