08/05/2024
Many people plan to age in place in their current home. However, when you realize you need daily support, that can become more difficult. That’s when many older adults start to consider home care or making a move to an assisted living community like The Forum at Rancho San Antonio.
If you’re having trouble deciding between assisted living and home care services, here’s a break down of the advantages, drawbacks and home care and assisted living costs.
Deciding Between In-Home Care and Assisted Living
The effectiveness of in-home care depends on your needs. For example, if you need help with dressing or bathing, a home care professional can stop by your home to help. However, once you go beyond two or three main areas of focus, in-home care becomes more expensive and harder to organize.
Assisted living at The Forum at Rancho San Antonio provides access to around-the-clock care and help maintaining your highest level of independence. You’ll also have chef-prepared meals and a range of services and amenities to help you make new social connections.
The Advantages of In-Home Care and Assisted Living
Here are the benefits of in-home care and assisted living.
Benefits of in-home care:
- Able to stay in your home
- One-on-one attention for your specific care needs
- Freedom to choose your caregiver
Benefits of assisted living:
- No home modifications needed
- Don’t have to manage, plan or schedule care
- Opportunities to socialize and explore your interests
- Personalized care plan
- Easy access to higher levels of care, if needed
- 24/7 security
- Scheduled transportation
The Disadvantage of In-Home Care and Assisted Living
There are also limitations to in-home care and assisted living.
Drawbacks of in-home care:
- Expensive home modifications are often required
- Increased risk of becoming more isolated in your home
- Managing your caregiver and monitoring other aspects of your health
- It can be difficult to have caregivers take on additional tasks
Drawbacks of assisted living:
- It can be challenging to leave the home
- The cost varies depending on the types of community amenities
- Takes time to adjust to your new home
Understanding Your Needs and Finances
What each option costs depends on your personal needs. Make a list of the care services you’ll need to maintain your ideal lifestyle including help with medication management, cooking, grooming or being more or even active.
To get a more accurate cost, contact assisted living communities and in-home care providers and tell them what you need. Wondering about costs at The Forum? You can call us at 650.944.0200 or fill out a contact form.
Staying Safe at Home
Falls are the number one cause of serious injury among older adults, so ensuring you reduce trip hazards and add safety features should be a top priority. If your mobility needs change, you’ll also want to make your home easier to get around. Here’s some changes to make.
- Grab bars: Install grab bars or railings in high-risk areas like bathrooms and bedrooms for additional support and to prevent slip and fall injuries.
- Bathroom changes: Bathrooms are filled with hard surfaces and even lifting your foot a little bit could cause you to lose your balance. To further reduce your chances of falling, consider installing a walk-in shower.
- Outdoor ramp: Adding a ramp isn’t just for wheelchair access. Ramps eliminate the need to navigate steps, which can make maintaining balance difficult, even with a banister.
- Add smart home technology: Items like medical alert, home security and remote monitoring or communication systems are very helpful. You may also consider adding controls for lights, entertainment systems and blinds that can be controlled with your smart phone or a remote.
- Replace faucets: Touchless faucets on kitchen and bathroom sinks are great for people with arthritis or grip issues. You can also replace twist faucet handles with levers.
- Update flooring: Carpet should be securely attached and no more than a half an inch thick. Remove rugs as they are a major tripping hazard. In the bathroom, use non-slip tile.
- Improve lighting: You’ll want to make sure your hallways and bathrooms are well lit. Install bright nightlights and use table or floor lamps for sitting areas. Put adhesive tape-lights under cabinets to provide extra countertop light.
- Replace doorknobs: Installing lever-style handles will make them easier to open than round doorknobs. If you have round kitchen cabinet doorknobs, you may want to switch them out with bar- or lever-style handles.
The Cost of Modifying Your Home
For an idea of what aging in place costs, here are some home modification examples:
- Widening doorways and hallways: This can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000 per doorway.
- Installing ramps and grab bars: This can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
- Modifying the kitchen and bathroom: This can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Adding night lights and better lighting: This can cost anywhere from $100 to $500.
- Adding non-slip flooring: This can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Medical alert systems: This can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 per month.
- Smart home devices: This can cost anywhere from $100 to $500.
- Walk-in shower: A basic walk-in show can cost between $1,000 and $12,000. More elaborate showers with features like built-in seats, benches, or multiple shower heads can cost upwards of $20,000.
NOTE: These modification costs don’t account for home maintenance and upkeep. Housekeeping, laundry, cooking, cleaning, lawn care and other general repairs should also be factored into your plans.
A Little Assistance for an Even Better Life
The Forum at Rancho San Antonio offers gorgeous, assisted living apartments and all the great perks of being part of a retirement community. To learn more about the benefits of our wellness focused assisted living, use our Community Assistant chat feature or contact us here.
