Aging in Place vs. Assisted Living

It is well known that many seniors want to stay in their homes rather than moving to an assisted living facility. There comes a point when you must make the decision to either allow your elderly loved one’s to age in place, or move to an assisted living facility. While most families want to support their loved one's wishes, they aren't always sure how to help. Being informed of the differences is crucial in making said decision, and we’re here to help you understand them.  

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What is Aging in Place?

Aging in place allows seniors to stay within their homes with the comfort of their familiar environment. Aging in place often includes the use of in-home care services, assisting with daily activities, household chores, and health care requirements, allowing seniors to maintain their independence. 

If your loved ones are facing challenges in accepting assistance, check out our guide on dealing with aging parents in denial for helpful tips and strategies to approach these conversations with care and understanding.

In-home caregivers play a vital role in assisting seniors with their daily activities, providing comprehensive and compassionate care near you, ensuring that they maintain their quality of life and independence. Below are some services the in-home caregiver we refer provide: 

Personal Care

Personal care involves receiving assistance from a caregiver with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. Part of a caregiver’s job includes helping seniors take showers, assisting with getting dressed, and ensuring proper hygiene. 

Household Chores

Caregivers can help with household chores, like cleaning, laundry, and maintaining a safe living environment, ensuring the senior’s home is clean and comfortable. 

Meals

Caregivers can cook nutritious meals that are tailored to dietary needs, ensuring seniors receive balanced and healthy meals. Caregivers can also provide assistance with feeding if necessary. 

Transportation

Caregivers can provide rides to medical appointments, social events, or simply running errands. This can help seniors stay mobile and independent, ensuring they have reliable transportation.

24 Hour Care

Hiring a caregiver for around-the-clock assistance for seniors who require continuous support offers peace of mind to both seniors and their families. This provides day and night shifts, ensuring that care if provided at all times. 

Providing these necessary services ensure seniors can continue to live safely in their homes as they age. What is the benefit of aging in place? The benefit of aging in place is that it allows individuals to enjoy their senior years in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by familiar surroundings. At Visiting Angels, we can refer you to trusted, vetted Sarasota senior caregivers who will customize these services to each individuals’ specific needs, ensuring that their everyday needs and health requirements are met, allowing individuals to enjoy their senior years surrounded by the comfort of their own home. Our home safety assessment for elderly individuals ensures a safer, more comfortable living environment.

Assisted Living

Assisted living facilities provide on-site staff around the clock, offering a more structured environment, providing support and safety. Unlike aging in place, assisted living involves a transition period, where the seniors are moved from their home to an assisted living facility. The staff in these facilities play a role in assisting seniors with their medical needs, providing comprehensive and compassionate care. These facilities provide many services, and each has its benefits, such as:

Personal Care Assistance

Caregivers can help seniors with daily activities, such as dressing, toileting, bathing, and grooming. This ensures that seniors maintain personal hygiene and overall well-being. This is crucial when it comes to seniors who have difficulty with mobility. For families wondering how to take care of bedridden elderly at home, caregivers offer essential support to ensure their loved one's needs are met.

Medication Management

Caregivers and medical staff monitor medication prescriptions, coordinating with healthcare providers to adjust as necessary, and will also help administer medications when required. This ensures that health complications are prevented, and ensures that medication is taken correctly and on time.

Health Wellness Programs

Assisted living facilities will provide health wellness programs, which include wellness screenings, exercise classes, nutritional counseling, and mental health support. These programs are designed to improve the mental, emotional, and physical health of those who participate. 

Social & Recreational Activities

Activities may be held to provide social interactions between individuals, reducing the feeling of isolation, and may provide a chance to enjoy hobbies to promote mental health, and improve emotional well-being. Such activities may include crafts, games, and outings. 

Emergency & Security Services

Assisted living facilities often provide services that ensure seniors have access to immediate assistance in the case of an emergency. These services include emergency response systems, on-site security personnel, and emergency protocols to handle urgent situations. 

Assisted Living vs Aging in Place in Florida - Which One Do You Need?

When considering the type of care your parent, spouse, or loved one needs, the biggest decision is whether to move them to an assisted living facility or let them age in place in their Sarasota home. 

Here are some of the reasons why families choose aging in place with in-home care: 

• Comfort - Let your senior age in place in the comfort and familiarity of their home

• Remain with Spouse - For elderly couples, nothing is more difficult than the physical and mental decline of one spouse while the other spouse remains strong. Separating spouses and moving one to an assisted living facility may be necessary; most families choose to keep them together for as long as possible. 

• Affordability - Assisted living facilities can get expensive. So while your senior is still able to, many families choose to keep them in their Sarasota home. 

By working with a home care agency, your loved one can get the care & assistance they need right in their home. In some ways, a home care agency can provide assisted living at home, allowing them to age in place. 

Contact Visiting Angels for Aging in Place in Sarasota, Florida

If aging in place is the right choice for your loved one, and you're looking for at home assisted living, contact Visiting Angels today. We provide referrals for senior care in Sarasota, FL, ensuring that your loved one receives the support they need to remain comfortably in their home. Caring for an elderly parent can bring emotional challenges, and it's important to acknowledge the emotional effects of caring for an elderly parent as part of the caregiving process. Our nearby caregiver referrals can help your loved one remain longer in their Sarasota home instead of moving to an assisted living facility.