Live-In Care For the Elderly Cost Effective Alternative To Assisted Living

By Bob Brueckman, Owner

By now many people in the community are familiar with companies that provide in-home care for seniors or the elderly. Services range from companion care, shopping and errands, transportation to doctor appointments as well as personal assistance like bathing, dressing and ambulation and medication reminders. Services can be provided on an hourly basis any day of the week or night based on mom and or dad's specific needs. Hourly shift work is great if mom or dad only need help at certain times of the day or week to keep them safe and independent in their home.

Once mom and dad have more extensive care needs that require someone to be available or close by 24 hours a day is when many families run into trouble. Decisions need to be made. Can mom and dad stay in their home safely? Should they move to an assisted living facility? Should they move in with a family member?

One fast growing cost effective alternative is to have a home health aide live-in on a full time basis. Live-in care has many benefits for those that need assistance throughout the day/evening but at the same time want to continue to live in their home.

Benefits include

Consistent one-on-one care by the same individual on a daily basis

A greater level of trust and bond with the person providing care and the individual(s) being cared for as well as the family

The cost of live-in care matches that of an assisted living for one person. If a couple is involved the cost is half what you would spend on assisted living for both mom and dad to move there

If only one person needs care and their spouse is still semi-independent they can stay together at home versus the threat of being split up due to each needing different levels of care

You can fulfill Mom and or Dad's wishes of staying at home as long as possible.

As health conditions change decisions can still be made to use other forms of care or living arrangements since live-in care can be started and stopped at anytime.

Mom and or Dad are not forced into selling their home and moving

Live-in care can be a temporary way to buy time for the family to agree on future care decisions and living arrangements

A critical success factor for a live-in arrangement is the individual match with mom and or dad's needs and the family. Go through a reputable agency that specializes in providing live-in care. Personality match, drug tests, background checks and routine nurse supervision by the agency are extremely important. Interview the aide and don't be afraid to try more than one if you feel the person isn't a good match. The right person is what makes it work.