In-Home Senior Care: Exploring The Pros And Cons

Are you looking for the perfect senior care option for your elderly parents or loved one? If so, you may wish to consider the use of in-home senior care due to the vast number of unique benefits this care option has to offer. However, like all senior care services, in-home care has both its pros and its cons. Consequently, this in-home care may not be right for everyone. Taking the time to review both the good and the bad features associated with this senior care option can help you to make a truly informed decision regarding whether or not these are the right services for your loved one.

The Good

There are many impressive benefits that accompany the use of in-home senior care. These benefits include

  • Comfort: The comforts of home can help to speed up the recovery process for many people who suffer a serious injury or illness. The use of in-home care services will allow seniors to enjoy these comforts rather than remaining in the hospital for an extended period of time in order to complete their recovery.
  • Maintained Independence: In-home care services strive to provide seniors with the daily assistance they need, while also allowing them to remain independent. For seniors who simply struggle with some daily tasks, this ability to maintain independence can be vital to their overall happiness.
  • Companionship: For many seniors with mobility issues, remaining at home all day by themselves can be difficult. In-home health aides are able to provide these seniors with the companionship they desire, while also providing them with many other valuable services.

The Bad

There are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of when choosing in-home care. These disadvantages include

  • Limited Medical Care: Most home health aides will not be registered nurses or licensed physicians. Consequently, the level of medical care that these individuals can provide will be limited. As a result, seniors who require constant medical attention will typically be better served by residential treatment facilities where trained medical staff is on-duty 24 hours a day.
  • Insurance Coverage: Not all insurance policies will provide coverage for in-home care services because these services are often regarded as non-medical services. Furthermore, many insurance companies who do provide coverage for these services will do so only for patients who are housebound. For some people, this will mean the need to pay for these services completely out of their own pocket.

The Bottom Line

While many seniors will benefit greatly from the use of in-home care services, these services will not be right for everyone. For instance, seniors who require round the clock medical attention will likely benefit more from the use of a residential treatment program, such as a nursing home.

If you find that you are still unsure about the use of in-home services after reviewing the pros and cons outlined above, taking the time to discuss this option with your loved one's primary physician can help you to determine whether or not these services are the right choice for your elderly family member. Talk to a professional like Comforcare - Burlington, NJ for more information.

Share