When a senior needs help with their activities of daily living, or ADLs, often the first reaction is fear of leaving their home. So strong is the urge to “remain home” that often the first solution is to identify a home care agency to meet the senior’s needs. While this is certainly one option, a second and often overlooked option is relocating to an assisted living community. Weighing the pros and cons of the different options will help to best identify the right choice to effectively meet the senior’s care needs.
Home care is a service where a caregiver is hired to enter a senior’s home to provide basic help with typical ADLs. This can be an excellent option where only limited care is needed or there are severe financial constraints. Only a few hours of time to meet care needs may be an ideal solution, yet many home care agencies have four-hour minimums per visit and any extensive care needs can become extremely costly, quickly negating any of the potential cost savings otherwise afforded by home care.
Senior care communities, such as assisted living facilities, are licensed by the California Department of Social Services and inspected routinely, unlike home care services. While assisted living facilities are often a more costly option for providing care when compared to home care, once all the other services provided by assisted living facilities are factored in, then assisted living can actually be a less costly option. Furthermore, there are numerous resources for seniors that can help pay for the needed care in assisted living facilities that aren’t available for home care services.
While both a home care agency and an assisted living community can meet typical ADL care needs, one unique advantage offered by the assisted living option is the socialization. Often seniors find that being isolated in their own home with limited in-home caregiver interaction and a reluctance to move are eventually far outweighed by the advantages of having friends and constant companionship available in an assisted living setting. This is why once seniors have relocated into an assisted living setting, the most frequent comment from the senior is, “I wish I had done this sooner.”
For additional information on the range of care services available to seniors, visit Pacifica Senior Living at Santa Clarita at 24305 W. Lyons Avenue, or visit www.pacificasantaclarita.com . You can also call 661-255-3100 or e-mail santaclaritamkg@islllc.com for more details.