There are generally 3 choices families have; a nursing home, taking care of their elderly family member themselves, or some kind of in home elder care assisted living program.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of all three of these options:
1. Nursing Home
Nursing homes have been a common choice as a final retirement place for many American elderly during the past half century or so. It's basically the "set it and forget it" approach. For some family members that simply have no way of caring for their loved ones and for those elders that are too poor in health to stay in their homes, a nursing home may make sense. It does insure round the clock care for the patients, but there are several drawbacks to this option;
a. It can be very expensive. Senior care at a nursing home can quickly eat up any assets the elderly person has. And in some states, the family members are also on the hook for the nursing home bills.
b. Notoriously poor quality of elder care. Though most nursing homes try to do their best with what they have, the reality is that there are usually too many patients and too few nurses to give the level senior care the patients deserve.
c. Seniors get very lonely there. As mentioned above, nursing homes are the "set it and forget it" option, and the "forget it" part is what seniors don't like about it. When they are placed in a nursing home, often their family members go several weeks or even months between visits. This can get very lonely.
2. A Family Caregiver
For families that have a qualified nursing professional living close by that has the available time, it may make a lot of sense for this family member to become the primary in home caregiver for their loved one. The major benefit to this option is that it is by far the most affordable. The major drawback of course is that being a primary caregiver can become a full time job in and of itself, and many people just don't have the time for it. Another common pitfall of this arrangement is that it can often place unnecessary strains on family relationships.
3. In Home Elder Care/Assisted Living
Hiring an in home care professional is an increasingly popular choice for seniors who need frequent medical attention, but want to remain in the comfort of their own home. There are several potential benefits to this option. The senior is usually much happier staying at home, which can have a positive impact on their health. Also, the quality of care is usually exceptional, because it is administered one on one, providing a deeper level of trust between patient and caregiver. Professional in home senior care can also relieve the family of the necessity to take care of it themselves, which can be a big burden lifted. The one possible drawback to the in home senior care/assisted living option is that it can be costly, and some families may have trouble affording this type of care. But although it costs more than making a family member the primary caregiver, it is still significantly less expensive than a nursing home.
