Many families face the challenge of caring for their loved ones with dementia. Meanwhile, the ascending costs of nursing homes and long-term care facilities have made it progressively difficult for retirees to afford comfortable accommodations in their golden years.
The 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey reported that the national median cost for a private room in nursing homes is USD$108,405 per year, an astonishing amount that’s out of reach for many families. This financial tension has led to an increasing trend of ‘aging in place,’ where seniors prefer to remain in their individual homes as they grow older. (1)
Now, here enters at-home dementia care. With the right support and resources in place, it can really work, offering tremendous benefits for both patients and their families. That said, this article will explore these advantages and how this setup can work for your unique situation.
Personalized care
At home dementia care provides the opportunity for more personalized attention and care tailored to your loved one’s specific needs.
In a nursing home, the staff must divide their time and attention among many residents. In contrast, at-home caregivers have their focus solely on your loved one. Talk about one-on-one care! This allows for a deeper understanding of the patient’s needs, preferences, habits, and unique challenges.
Familiar surroundings
Another major advantage of at-home dementia care is the comfort and familiarity of the patient’s own environment. Currently, the majority or 80% of dementia patients are receiving personalized care in their own homes. Staying in a familiar environment allows your loved one to maintain their daily routines and habits, which can be crucial for cognitive function. (2)
They’ll also have easier access to personal belongings, photos, and mementos that may prompt positive memories and emotions. The sense of familiarity can provide a calming effect and help maintain a better quality of life.
Flexibility in care options
At-home dementia care provides flexibility in terms of the level and type of care provided. You can choose from a range of options, including:
- Full-time professional care
- Part-time assistance
- Family caregiver support
- Combination of professional and family care
This flexibility lets you adjust the care plan as your loved one’s needs change over time. For example, you might start with part-time assistance and gradually increase the level of care as the Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
Maintenance of independence
Even with dementia, your loved one can still do several daily activities on their own.
At-home dementia care lets them keep doing the stuff they enjoy and know how to do. Maybe it’s watering the plants, engaging in art therapy activities, or even folding the laundry. They can do whatever it is with someone watching out for them, instead of having nurses do everything.
This independence is a huge factor in their happiness, too. It’s not just about getting things done. It’s about feeling useful and in control. They feel better about themselves and life in general. Plus, staying active and doing familiar tasks might even help slow down dementia.
A more cost-effective option
Although the cost of at-home care can depend on the level of assistance needed, it’s often more cost-effective than full-time residential care. The median monthly cost for a private room in a nursing home in the United States is USD$9,034 and USD$7,908 for a shared room. (3)
By choosing at-home care, you’re paying only for the services you need, rather than for round-the-clock care that may not be necessary in the early stages of dementia. This can help stretch retirement savings and provide more financial flexibility for families.
Emotional wellness and family involvement
At-home care allows for greater family involvement in the care process. Study shows that strong social engagement and family support are associated with slower cognitive decline in dementia patients. At-home care supports and facilitates these important social interactions and allows family members to be more directly involved in their loved one’s care. (4)
Moreover, regular interaction with loved ones can help maintain emotional support and provide a sense of security for a person with dementia.
Access to monitoring solutions
Advancements in technology have made it easier than ever to provide proper at-home care for dementia patients. You can now install passive monitoring devices that alert family members, medical teams, or emergency services if there’s an issue. These can include:
- Motion sensors to detect falls
- Medication reminders and dispensers
- GPS trackers for wandering prevention
- Video monitoring systems for remote check-ins
A 2022 report says that the global market for remote patient monitoring devices is expected to reach USD$175.2 billion by 2027, indicating the growing adoption of these technologies in home care settings. (5)
Final thoughts
At-home dementia care offers numerous benefits for your loved one. It places them in the comfort of familiar surroundings, which, in itself, is already a major perk. Personalized attention and, thus, improved quality of life are the other unmissable pros as well. Yes, it requires careful planning and support, but the advantages of aging in place can far outweigh the challenges.
References:
- “How much does a nursing home cost?”, Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-does-a-nursing-home-cost/
- “Caregiving for a Person with Alzheimer’s Disease or a Related Dementia”, Source: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/alzheimer.htm
- “The Cost of Memory Care: What to Expect”, Source: https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/local-care/memory-care-costs/
- “Social connections as determinants of cognitive health and as targets for social interventions in persons with or at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders: a scoping review”, Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11058077/
- “Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market worth $175.2 Billion by 2027 – Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets”, Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remote-patient-monitoring-rpm-market-worth-175-2-billion-by-2027–exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301510715.html
