When a loved one faces challenges to their health or independence, they may need some extra support to maintain their quality of life. Your loved one’s care can take place at their residence through home care services or in a group setting through community care. Learn more about each care setting, their benefits, projected costs, and how to find appropriate care for your loved one.
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Home care is care delivered to your loved one in the place they call home. This type of care is typically more personalized as the caregiver has a 1-to-1 relationship with their client in the client’s personal residence. Home care agencies hire caregivers that can support people with a variety of everyday needs. Most home care caregivers offer services like the following:
This type of care is almost always non-medical in nature. Home care may also be referred to as homemaker services.
While home care and home health care may sound very similar, these two care types are distinct from each other. Unlike home care, home health care focuses on the medical needs of the client. Home health care services are usually provided by a licensed nurse. Home health care costs may overlap with the costs of palliative care at home. Some home care agencies have nurses on staff that can also provide home health care, if needed.
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Community care is care received in an assisted living facility, residential care home, or nursing home. Such communities offer a supportive atmosphere for people with a variety of care needs. Though, community care typically has a lower caregiver-to-client ratio than home care. In some communities, there may be one caregiver to 15 residents per shift.
There are several types of community care options for people in need of care. These include the following:
When trying to determine what care is appropriate for your loved one, you need to consider several factors. To start the process, evaluate the following:
Once you review these points, you’ll have a clearer picture of your loved one’s unique situation, needs, and preferences.
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Those who prefer to stay in their homes for longer may be a good fit for home care under certain conditions. A person may benefit from home care if the following are true:
People may find community care a good fit if they prefer a more social atmosphere or need an elevated level of care and resources. Your loved one may benefit from community care if the following are true:
Home care typically charges on an hourly basis. Whereas, community care usually charges a monthly fee for residents. The median costs related to home care are calculated at a rate of 44 hours per week by the Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Compare home care and community care in the table below.[01]
Care type | Median daily cost* | Median monthly cost* | Median yearly cost* |
---|---|---|---|
In-home care | |||
Home care services (44 hours per week) | $163 | $4,957 | $59,488 |
Home health services (44 hours per week) | $169 | $5,148 | $61,776 |
Community care | |||
Assisted living facility | $148 | $4,500 | $54,000 |
Nursing home (private room) | $297 | $9,034 | $108,405 |
Nursing home (semi-private room) | $260 | $7,908 | $94,900 |
*2021 data
It’s important to note that 44 hours of care per week does not equal around-the-clock care. In fact, 24/7 care across one week would total 168 hours. That said, the national median cost for 24/7 care (168 hours per week) for one month was $18,927 in 2021.
The flexibility of home care means there are many different scenarios with different cost outcomes, as shown in the table below.[01]
Possible home care scenarios | Weekly hours | National median monthly cost in 2021 |
---|---|---|
2 hours of care / 4 days a week | 8 | $901 |
4 hours of care / 5 days a week | 20 | $2,253 |
8 hours of care / 5 days a week | 40 | $4,506 |
Additionally, home care does not cover a person’s basic living expenses. Whereas, in community care, basic living expenses are usually included in the cost.
Yes, community home care is always an option. If your loved one is already living in a community setting and is not satisfied with the on-site care services available to them, it’s possible for them to supplement with a third-party home care agency. Home care agencies are very agreeable when it comes to where their client lives, and a care community is no exception.
Here are just a couple of situations where community home care may be a great fit:
It can be challenging to know where to start when looking for care. Whether you are looking for home care or community care, the Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom can help you find care for your loved one, all at no cost to you. These advisors can also help families find home care for disabled or ill adults. Whatever your family’s needs, through our free service you can learn about the options available to you locally for home care or community care.
Genworth. Cost of Care Survey.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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