What is Live-In Care?
Live-in care is a type of care in which a devoted team provides personalized care for 24 hours at your own home. This care offers you a professional caregiver for your consistent care who provides around the clock support with complete companionship and help you in your daily activities, making your life independent.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living, also known as Extra Housing Care, provides you with specific residents or facilities according to your needs. In assisted living, caregivers help you organize the house and household chores such as preparing meals, cleaning the house, etc. They also provide personal support and help in daily activities such as bathing, washing, dressing, etc.
Key Differences Between Live-In Care and Assisted Living
Live-in care and assisted living both have significant differences. Both provide different levels of medical care and personalized support. Some significant differences are below:
Care Level and Personalization
Both live-in care and assisted living have different levels and quality of care. Live-in care provides highly specialized personal care with more attention while assisted living also provides personal support but it focuses on multiple residents at the same time. It does not offer the same level of support and care that you would receive from a live-in caregiver at your home.
Living Environment
Live-in care is provided to you at your doorstep without moving to another facility or residence, while assisted living demands you to relocate from your home to a specific residence that is made up according to your needs. Assisted living care is for those who enjoy the social environment and its activities. It is often especially for people above the age of 55 adults while live-in care is offered to more senior adults of +70 who have mobility issues and choose to stay home.
Cost Considerations
If we discuss the cost and charges then assisted living is more economical than live-in care. Live-in care is cost high because it provides particular care and support for one individual while assisted living has multiple focuses on multiple residents.
Social Interaction and Community
Assisted living provides you with social interaction and access to other group activities. While live-in care is limited to social interactions and provides irregular social activities at your home. Assisted living provides daily activities and companionship with other residents. But, the live in care may feel isolated with fewer communal activities.
Pros of Live-In Care
24/7 Care
You can experience the live-in care service for various benefits. It provides 24/7 hours care including personal, medical, and house requirements to make sure you are receiving the care that you deserve.
Tailored care
Live in Care provides you with tailored care that matches your needs, preferences, and daily tasks. It customizes their plans according to your time or whenever you need them.
Personalized Care
Live-in care gives you specific personalized care at your home. It offers you personal assistance as per your needs and develops specific plans according to your requirements.
Comfort of Home
Live-in care offers a stress-free environment and friendly atmosphere to individuals’ homes. It provides comfort and familiar surroundings to you 24/7 hours.
Enhanced Safety
Live-in-home care availability enhances your safety and well-being. It responds immediately to any emergency you get which can give you peace of mind. It provides you with a safe and healthy environment.
Cons of Live-In Care
Limited Social Interactions
Live-in care provides you with irregular social activities limited to your house. It provides less interaction with your family and friends.
High Cost
It may be more expensive than other care because of its 24/7 hour instant care and support. It has additional expenses and one-on-one care that make it high cost.
Care Worker Needs
If you hire a care worker privately for your loved ones then you also have to fill up the gaps of caregiver needs. Because caregivers still have their engagements and visits to their family. They also need a short time break or holiday.
Privacy Invaded
Not everyone feels comfortable living with a stranger in your own home. Maybe your loved one feels uncomfortable and disturbs their privacy.
Pros of Assisted Living
Assistance with Daily Activities
Assisted living helps you with your daily tasks or activities like bathing, showering, dressing, etc, and also provides personalized support.
Home-Like Environment
Assisted living gives personal space to the client by bringing your items and essentials to new residents where you can feel the environment of that resident-like home. Also, the staff helps the clients to adjust easily to their new surroundings and arrange social activities.
New Social Opportunities
Most elders are isolated and feel loneliness in their homes but assisted living provides better social interactions with your peers. It indulges you in various social activities and organized day programs that reduce stress and loneliness.
A Supportive Environment
Providing a supportive environment is the biggest benefit of assisted living which include 24/7 access to the staff and assistance to your peer’s community. Also ensures your safety with dedicated staff.
Healthcare
This care is designed for those who choose to live in a social environment. Assisted living also offers the services of health care by the administration and management of medication and health. Assisted living staff keep monitoring and checking the health conditions. The best thing is, you can also get direct access to health professionals.
Cons of Assisted Living
Lack of Privacy
Assisted living relocates you from your private room to a social environment where your privacy can be invaded. Many people do not feel comfortable and like to socialize daily. You have to live with other residents and provide them with a communal environment.
Less Personalized Care
Assisted living provides less personalized care to individuals because of monitoring and caring of other residents. It focuses on multiple residents at the same time and cannot be able to give you the type of personalized care that Live-in care provides you at your home.
Limited Medical Care
It does not provide the level of medical care that a nursing home, hospital, or other care can provide you. If you or your loved one has complex medical needs or other serious health issues, assisted living cannot be the right decision for your care.
Strict Policies
Assisted living has strict policies and rules that you have to follow. They have special hours for visiting, activity participation, and fixed meal times. It takes the freedom of living and is compulsory to follow these rules by living there.
Adapting to Unknown Environments
It gets difficult for every person to adjust to a new and different environment. To receive the services of assisted living, you have to move from your house to their residential territory and it would take time for you to adjust to that environment.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Live-In Care and Assisted Living
There are some factors that you have to follow before choosing between live-in care and assisted living.
Health Needs
Before choosing between live-in care and assisted living, evaluate your or your loved ones’ health needs and their services if they match and are tailored to your needs.
Personal Preferences
Consider the personal preferences of you or your loved one who would like to move to another residential area or live in their home. Analyze the lifestyle of assisted living and live-in care if they are familiar and peaceful or not. You have to make sure to evaluate the preferences of independence and socialization.
Financial Situation
Most importantly consider and evaluate your financial situation before choosing any care between assisted living and live-in care. Assisted living is cost-effective while live-in care is expensive because of the 24/7 availability.
Family Support
Assess the support from your family members if they are able or allow for daily visits if you hire a live-in care worker. If family support is not available for daily visits or limited so assisted living can be a good option for you to opt for.
When to Choose Live-In Care and Assisted Living?
When you have to choose between live-in care and assisted living care, first go through your preferences and needs about care, health, and daily tasks. Then analyze which one matches your demands.
- If an individual wants to live in their home and needs privacy then live-in care can be the best option for you. While assisted living instructs your privacy and personal space.
- If you or your loved one likes to interact socially and participate in social activities, assisted living provides these services in a broad range. It would be a good option for you to avoid your loneliness.
- If an individual has complex health issues, live-in care can be a more comprehensive choice. Because live-in care provides highly personalized medical care. As assisted living does not provide that type of highly personalized care because of communal areas.
Conclusion:
Assisted living and live-in care both are good in providing their services. Live-in care provides 24/7 hours of personalized care. On the other hand, assisted living provides you with a social home-like environment with communal activities and an enjoyable lifestyle. Live-in care provides fewer social activities but has much concern for medical care rather than assisted living. By considering the key difference, pros and cons, and several factors mentioned above, you can make the right decision between live-in care and assisted living.
