When Does Assisted Living Become More Cost Effective Than Home Care?

If you notice a loved one is having difficulty getting around their house or could use assistance with activities of daily living – cooking, cleaning, getting dressed, eating or remembering to take their medication – your first thought might be in-home care. While most people would prefer aging in place at home, is that the best option for your loved one?

Yes, staying at home can provide familiar surroundings, but there may come a time when the cost of home care can start to significantly impact your loved one’s finances and, if they’re on a fixed income, protecting their nest egg is vital. If you decide to research assisted living, there are so many options out there it can be difficult to know where to start. To help you make a more informed choice, here’s how to figure out what type of care works best and a comparison between the cost of assisted living and in-home care.

Determining How Much Help Is Needed

Before deciding which option is best for your loved one and your family, you should figure out how much help your family member needs and compare that with how much help is already available. To start, make a list of everything they need help with on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Next, be realistic about how much help you, family, friends or neighbors will provide. It’s important to think about this in terms of long-term, ongoing help because a few weeks or months probably isn’t going to be enough.

After comparing both lists, you will have a better idea of how much additional help is required.

What is Assisted Living?

An assisted living community like Freedom Plaza allows your family member to stay independent for as long as possible. Plus, a community’s round-the-clock staff is there to assist in the event of an emergency. According to a 2023 study by leading long-term care insurance company Genworth, the average national assisted living cost is $5,350 per month. Assisted living services typically covered by this monthly fee include the following:

Three meals a day

Nursing care

24-hour security

Wellness programs

Daily activities

Social events

Housekeeping

Health services

Laundry services

Transportation services

What Is In-Home Care?

Assuming your loved one’s house is already equipped with grab bars, ramps and other equipment to improve their safety, in-home care allows them to age in the comfort of home. According to Genworth’s 2023 study, the average national cost of an in-home aide is $6,292 per month and assumes 44 hours a week of care. If your family member needs more care, then you can expect the home care cost to be higher. In-home care services typically include the following:

Personal care

Companionship

Supervision

Laundry

Light housekeeping

Meal preparation

Medication reminders

Shopping

Errands

Transportation

PLEASE NOTE: While the numbers above are a good place to get you started, you should know that the cost of care varies based on setting, geographic location and the level of care required. These numbers are an average that includes all assisted living from communities that offer semi-private rooms up to those that offer a full apartment. It also includes small communities with limited activities up to ones with resort-style amenities and on-site health care. To get a more accurate cost, contact assisted living communities and in-home care providers in your area and tell them what you need.

Determining Needed Home Modifications (If Any)

As your loved one’s needs change, it’s important that their home still fits those needs. Falls are the number one cause of serious injury among older adults, so taking steps to prevent trips and falls should be a big priority. Plus, if your family member’s mobility needs change, you’ll want to ensure their home is easy to get around. To prioritize their health and safety, here are some suggested modifications to make.

Grab bars: Installing grab bars or railings in high-risk areas like bathrooms and bedrooms gives anyone with mobility issues additional support and helps prevent slip and fall injuries. Install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower/bathtub since these surfaces get slippery.

Bathroom changes: Bathrooms are filled with hard, unforgiving surfaces, and even lifting your foot and leg a little bit could cause you to lose your balance. To further reduce your chances of falling, you should consider putting in 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 a smart phone or 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. Rugs are a major tripping hazard but can be secured with special types of tape. In the bathroom, you want to use non-slip tile.

Improve lighting: Improving the lighting around your home can mean putting bright night-lights in hallways and bathrooms, using table or floor lamps for sitting areas and putting adhesive tape-lights under cabinets to provide extra countertop light.

Replace doorknobs: Replacing round doorknobs with lever-style handles that are easier to open. You may also want to switch out round kitchen cabinet knobs with bar- or lever-style handles.

What Do Home Modifications Cost?

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 shower 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.