The big decision that many families must make when it comes to taking care of an elderly family member is when is the time, if ever, to transition them to a nursing home, often called Skilled Nursing Facilities or SNFs. For some families, nursing homes are the best option when considering all the different factors, such as cost, increasing health concerns and the willingness of the elder to move out of their home into a place that is unfamiliar.
For others, the best course of action is to have your parent/grandparent continue to live in their home and have either a family member or in-home nurse take care of them. But which option should you choose? For families facing this decision, they must look at all possible scenarios to see which works best for their elderly family member and themselves, as well as the financial implications of each option.
To help you decide what route to take, here are the pros and cons to a family member caretaker vs. an in-home nurse.
Family Member Caretaker
Pros
Increased Time with Family
Many seniors experience feelings of loneliness, and by being an active participant in their life by helping take care of them, family member caretakers can help alleviate these feelings.
Decrease Expenses
By having a family member be the primary caretaker, you can avoid paying extra money for an in-home nurse, which can be quite costly, especially if you’re having trouble using insurance to help cover some of the costs.
Cons
Not Prepared for Medical Emergency
Nurses tend to be more expensive because they are providing an important service to your family member. In the case of an emergency that you are not prepared to handle, an in-home nurse is better-equipped to act fast and appropriately to any situation.
Restricted Freedom
You may take off work and free-up your schedule to give the amount of care that is necessary for the senior in your family, but it can be hard to make sure you are available no matter when to help out. There is a certain level of restricted freedom one must expect if they choose to take on the responsibility of primary caretaker, and sometimes it can be hard to make time for yourself.
In-Home Caretaker
Pros
Full-Time Care
With a nurse, you have the assurance that at all times, your family member is in safe hands. An in-home nurse’s primary responsibility is to look out and care for their patient. You’ll free up your own time, while not having to worry that no one is home to assist your loved one.
Personal Interaction
A new caregiver will allow the senior in your family to build a new relationship, which is great for improving overall happiness and the emotional well-being of your loved one.
Cons
Expensive
Nurses can be costly, and for a good reason, as the service they are providing is extremely important. However, one must always consider the cost when it comes to bringing in a full-time in-home nurse.
Finding Quality Care Can Be Hard
This isn’t as difficult as it may have been 15 years ago, as there are plenty of resources out there to help you narrow your search and find the best fit for your family member’s needs and your own. However, you do want to make sure that you find that perfect fit, which may take some time.
Consider Ōmcare to Assist in the Caretaking of Your Loved Ones
As you can see, there are many options to consider when thinking about care – in home or otherwise for the caretaking of your loved one. As you begin to explore the vast landscape, from partially-assisted to full in-home care or on your own, you’ll benefit from knowing that there are choices. No matter which option is best for your family, Ōmcare’s Telemed System offers caregivers of all types the ability to see, speak to, and confirm appropriate medication from anywhere. This new product, launching early 2019, allows you to make sure that your loved ones are taking their prescribed medicines through a video chat interface. It even dispenses the pills to ensure they receive the right pill at the right time. When you can’t physically be there to take care of your loved one, Ōmcare still gives you a chance to be there for them.
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