Home Care vs Long-Term Care
The decision to pursue formal care can be as difficult as it is important. Whether you need care for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to remember that we will all need some level of formal care at some point in our lives.
In this article, “long-term care” refers to nursing homes, care homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care facilities. “Home care” refers to the reception of care services in the home from a care provider.
Home care can fit a variety of people looking for different levels of service. These levels of service can help people:
Live independently
Return home from a hospital visit
Maintain their quality of life
Avoid or delay entry into a long-term care facility.
Home care is best suited for people who:
Don't need around the clock care
Have support at home from their family and friends (including socialization)
Live in urban areas with access to amenities, including medical services
Don’t pose a potential risk to themselves or others.
Learn more about home care here.
Those who need around the clock care, pose a potential risk, or thrive off of the organized group social activities available in care facilities, are usually best suited for a long-term care facility.
Who needs long-term care?
It can range from person to person and depending on the amount of support they have within their home. Typically people who enter into a long-term care facility have just had a major health scare such as a fall, stroke, or heart attack. These events can arise suddenly but most often develop gradually as people age, develop an illness or suffer from a worsening disability. Long-term care is a good fit for those lacking the support to age at home and/or require around the clock care.
With Alto, trying home care is risk-free. While many home care agencies require you to commit to a certain number of hours per week in order to begin receiving services, you can book as little as one hour of care on Alto. Browse our caregivers here to find the perfect fit for your family.
