Q. My husband and I are approaching older age. I experience āsenior momentsā from time to time. I havenāt been diagnosed with dementia, but I am aware that thereās dementia in my family history. Although weāre rather active, we do realize that weāre slowing down. We also donāt want to be a burden to our adult children. We are exploring our care options, should we need more help down the road. Can you provide us with any insight regarding how to choose between in-home care or moving to a senior community?
A. I commend you for your proactive approach to seeking the right care for yourself and your husband. Many older adults donāt have that luxury because they wait too long to plan. Both care options have their pros and cons. Here are a few points to consider helping you make the best decision.
Start by evaluating your care needs. Do you need more help with basic tasks, such as bathing, dressing, doing laundry, or preparing meals? If your care needs lean towards the non-medical side, both in-home care and moving to an independent or assisted living community are appropriate options. The perk of in-home care is that you donāt have to move to get the non-medical care support you need. However, in-home often cannot accommodate skilled nursing care. Should your care needs evolve, you may need to hire additional care provided by a skilled nurse. If you choose a continuous care senior community, you move through the levels of care as your care needs change.
Next, consider your preferred lifestyle. COVID aside, are you typically more social and involved in the community? Do you like spending time with large groups and meeting new people? Do you prefer to stay home and interact with a few of your closest friends? Do you already have hobbies that keep you active?
Senior living communities offer a greater sense of community. They provide a variety of activities and can be a great option if you are willing to be proactive. In-home care is perfect for older adults who are content with their current lifestyle. In-home care can come to you, when you need it, and help you engage in your favorite leisure pursuits.
Finally, what does the term, āhome,ā mean to you? Are you attached your current home, and can it be modified to meet your care needs? Are you already looking to downsize and donāt want to move multiple times? Is āhomeā a location or who youāre with?
If the thought about selling your current home is emotionally devastating to you, then in-home care is the option to choose. It doesnāt require a move and you can live your life in the comfort of your own home. If you were already considering a downsize, you may want to at least look at senior community options. I would strongly suggest only looking at communities that offer multiple care levels, so that you donāt have to move to another senior community as your care needs change.
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