Reasons to Get Home Health Care for Seniors
- Receiving care at home is often less expensive than alternatives.alte H?¡ènde am Stock image by taubirgit from Fotolia.com
Aging seniors have traditionally been forced to rely on family members or nursing home care to assist them with daily activities and medical monitoring as they aged. The emergence of the home health care industry has provided an alternative for seniors, and many are taking advantage of it. Receiving care at home has many benefits, including the receipt of highly customized care at reduced costs. - The cost of home health care is one-quarter that of nursing home care, according to The Senior's Choice, Inc. Room and board costs are eliminated when seniors stay in their homes. They can also continue to purchase food and household supplies as they normally would without paying the flat rates for these items that are factored into the cost of a nursing home. Although home health care can be more expensive than a nursing home depending on the amount of care needed, Independence 4 Seniors asserts that home health care is often less expensive than nursing home care when seniors need no more than eight hours of care per day.
- Unlike nursing homes where residents are often required to purchase predetermined levels of care, home care can easily be adjusted to include only the services seniors need and want. Those who receive care at home get more one-on-one attention than those in nursing homes. It is also far easier to account for individual tastes by providing a certain favorite food or laundry detergent when a senior is able to stay home. Caregivers providing one-on-one attention are also better able to ensure that the seniors are following exercise programs and other lifestyle recommendations made by their physicians.
- In general, people are simply happier and more comfortable in their own homes, and seniors are no different. Receiving care at home allows seniors to receive care with minimal discomfort and disruption of their daily routines. Seniors who are able to stay at home report a higher level of satisfaction with their lives and, according to Independence 4 Seniors, Seniors for Living and The Senior's Choice, Inc., seniors receiving care at home tend to heal faster after injuries and illnesses. The Senior's Choice, Inc. claims that seniors receiving care at home often live longer than their institutionalized counterparts.
