Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1382 Old Freeport Rd #2AR, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
(412) 406-7667
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Nursing Home vs In Home Care

Comfort Keepers In-Home Care in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Nursing Home Vs. Home Care in Pittsburgh, PA

Learn the key differences that differentiate a nursing home from in home care

According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are nearly 50 million Americans over the age of 50 who require some level of daily living support. Nearly 15 million of these seniors suffer from Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Despite the large number of seniors requiring daily care and support, figures from the Congressional Budget office (2015) showed that less than one percent of seniors under the age of 75 lived in a nursing home, but those numbers jumped to 13 percent by age 85, with nearly 60 percent of nursing home residents having passed their 85th birthday.

One of the main contributors to the rise in nursing home use with age is the ever-increasing age of family caregivers. Many seniors who require care in their "younger" years receive this care from a spouse or significant other. As these caregivers age, they often find themselves in need of their own care or simply cannot meet the physical and mental demands of caregiving any longer. Many of these family caregivers believe that a nursing home becomes their only option.

A nursing home provides both medical and non-medical support and monitoring 24-hours a day. The facilities are designed for seniors with mobility issues and are designed with senior safety in mind. Most nursing homes have arrangements with local medical facilities and have access to advanced medical devices and technology. Staff is trained to care for senior accidents and emergencies such as falls, heart attacks, strokes, choking, etc.


Home Care Pittsburgh

Today, there is another option between the family caregiver and the nursing home: in home care. In home care refers to (as the name implies) supports and services that are provided to a senior in their personal residence.  

To offset safety concerns, in home care generally starts with a home-safety analysis. Many safety changes are as simple as adding grab bars near the toilet or in the shower or adding non-slip adhesive to bathroom and kitchen floors. Other common adjustments include adding handrails, clearing walkways,  and putting motion sensors on the lights.

In order to meet the demands of a highly diverse population, nursing homes need to create a standardized menu of care. At home senior care, on the other hand, is entirely focused on the individual and unique concerns, desires, and needs of the senior receiving care. From meal times, morning and evening routines, and entertainment choices to food selection, freedom of scheduling and privacy, in-home care providers are able to tailor care and support.

Despite the number of care options at a nursing home, much of the care is overtly institutional. For seniors who desire personalized care from a caregiver who knows and cares for them as a person, in home care affords the opportunity for caregivers to get to know and interact with seniors on an emotional and mental level, making companionship as valuable as the elements of physical care.

In short, nursing homes provide many necessary services; however, the vast majority of seniors desire to remain in their own home. With Comfort Keepers personalized in-home care, seniors have the option of quality, safe, and independent living in the comfort and convenience of their own home.