The Benefits of Home Care: By the Numbers (How Beneficial is Home Care?)

If given an option, most seniors aged over 65 prefer to age at home, where they can be closer to family and friends. They want to enjoy what’s left of their independence and be around what’s familiar to them – their things, room, and areas in the house that they usually frequent.

Most family members also prefer for their senior loved ones to age in place. It will give them peace of mind and ensure the safety and well-being of their loved ones.

What is Home Care?

Home care, in-home care, or aging in place refers to supportive care administered at home by a licensed caregiver or health care professional. It is designed for seniors, those with chronic health problems, those who live independently but need assistance, those who are disabled or with special needs, and those who are recovering from a medical procedure or hospitalization.

Types of Home Care

There are three main types of home care:

Private Duty Nursing Care

Also known as long-term or home-based nursing care, it refers to in-home nursing care for seniors or adults with disability, injury, or chronic illness.

Personal Care and Companionship

This refers to non-medical or assistive care and mainly provides guidance and assistance with daily activities.

Home Health Care

Also known as intermittent skilled care, this refers to physician-directed short-term patient care for those who are recovering from surgery, injury, or illness and those who came from a long hospital stay.

Typical home care services include:

• Assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, and toilet use
• Housekeeping and meal planning
• Administering medications
• Vital signs monitoring
• Home health aide
• Physical therapy
• Companionship

Home Care Benefits by the Numbers

More and more families now want their senior loved ones to age in place. It allows seniors to enjoy a multitude of benefits that they may never experience if they stayed in a nursing home or any similar facility.

Here are some benefits seniors in-home care (and their families and loved ones) enjoy. This list specifically includes significant statistics.

• In a recent national poll facilitated by the American Association of Retired Persons, more than 76% of respondents aged 50 and up indicated that they would rather stay in their communities or homes than move to nursing homes. Around 34% of the participants do not mind if they have to do some renovations to make their homes suitable and comfortable for their health and physical needs. Home care allows seniors to stay in an environment that’s convenient and familiar to them. They’ll feel safe surrounded by people they’ve known their whole lives – neighbors, friends, relatives, and family.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, about ⅓ of adults aged 45 years old and up struggle with isolation and loneliness. Home care allows them to enjoy the companionship of their carers. They’ll have someone to spend time with.
• Seniors in-home care have very minimal visits to their doctors yearly – around 25% lesser and 58% lesser hospital admissions.
• Home care helps reduce the overall cost of health care. In 2008, for example, the country’s hospital costs were significantly reduced, resulting in lesser hospital costs by about $25 billion.
• Home care allows seniors to live with or closer to their family members. This can help bring families closer to each other. Some seniors aged 60 and above live at least 280 miles away from their children.
• The need for caregivers continues to grow year after year. It is expected to increase by at least 26% by 2024. The projected number of caregiver jobs in the US by that year is 500,000.
• More or less 40% of seniors over 65 require assistance with their daily activities. About 70% of adults 65 years and older will eventually need assistance and companionship. The home care industry is the only sector in elderly care capable of providing these needs.
• Home care helps improve workplace performance. It increases productivity, thereby reducing the annual productivity loss of $34 billion.

In-home care or aging in place is also the best alternative for families looking for affordable but dependable options for senior care. The estimated annual cost for home care is more or less $45,000, while a private nursing home’s annual cost is close to $95,000 per room.

Home care relieves families and loved ones of the stresses and burdens related to elderly care. Health care professionals and caregivers offer their time, assistance, and companionship to your senior loved one in a safe, convenient, and familiar environment. Home care helps improve the health, emotional well-being, and safety of the elderly.