As we approach the end of our #HomeForTheHolidays campaign, we are sharing a video where we compare 24/7 care and live-in care. These options are sometimes required for someone to continue to live safely at home and are used frequently when individuals are homebound. Examples of when these care options may be necessary are rehabilitation & high risk of readmission, medical conditions, safety concerns (e.g., fall risk), and end of life.
For each care option (24/7 and Live-In), we'll discuss how quickly care can start, the number of caregivers, alertness and sleep time, accommodations, and cost.
Make sure to watch to find out if there's a decisive winner or if it's a draw!
#HomeHelpersHomeForTheHolidays #HomeForTheHolidays #HomeCareShowdown #CaregivingComparison #HomeHelpersCare
Transcript
[Jonathan] There are a number of reasons why someone may need a caregiver in the home at all times. Today, we're here to discuss the differences between two options for in-home care: 24/7 care and live-in care. We'll help you understand the pros and cons of each, so you can make an informed decision that best suits your loved one's needs. Are you ready to learn more about 24/7 and live-in care? Let’s go.
Let's begin by understanding the why: the reasons why someone might require 24/7 or live-in care. In general, these types of care are necessary for some to continue to live safely at home. We see these care options used a lot with our homebound clients. Here are a few specific examples.
Rehabilitation and High Risk of Readmission: Individuals recovering from injuries, surgeries, or medical procedures may require 24/7 or live-in care, especially if they are at a high risk of readmission to the hospital. Having a caregiver present can help to prevent complications and ensure that the individual follows their rehabilitation plan diligently. This reduces the risk of returning to the hospital and supports a smooth recovery process.
Medical Conditions: Individuals with severe medical conditions such as advanced Alzheimer’s may need a caregiver in the home at all times.
Safety Concerns: For example, Individuals with a history of falling or wandering.
End of Life: When someone has a limited life expectancy and is on hospice, we oftentimes see 24/7 care for their comfort and emotional support.
Now, let's dive into what 24/7 care and live-in care actually mean.
24/7 care: Alert caregiver at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Requires multiple caregivers.
Live-In Care: Typically one caregiver that resides in the home. Required sleep and break times.
With 24/7 care, you have an alert caregiver at all times actively providing support, monitoring, and assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes daytime and nighttime hours and requires a team of caregivers. It's also known as round-the-clock care.
In contrast, live-in care involves a caregiver residing in the home. This usually means one caregiver, and therefore, there will be times when the caregiver needs to sleep.
Just a quick side note: There's a variation of the live-in model that can involve multiple caregivers, which we'll touch on later in this video.
Now, let's compare and contrast these two options using five key criteria: How quickly care can start, the number of caregivers, alertness and sleep time, accommodations, and costs.
How quickly care can start:
24/7 care can get started more quickly. Sometimes this is truly the only option if you need care in place immediately. Basically, caregivers are added to the schedule, and then they come to the individual’s home, and then return to their own personal homes.
Live-in care takes more time. You’re asking a caregiver to reside in the home, which involves some lead time. Since the caregiver will live in the home, compatibility with the individual being cared for also becomes more important. In addition, the pool of caregivers that can be selected from becomes smaller because not every caregiver is willing or able to pick up and move into a home with an individual full-time.
So when looking at the time it takes to get care started, the edge easily goes to 24/7 care.
24/7 is the best option for starting care quickly.
Live-in care typically takes more lead time to start.
Number of caregivers
With 24/7 care, because you always have to have an alert caregiver, there will be multiple caregivers. So you’re looking at at least 2 caregivers per day. Throughout the week, you will oftentimes see 5-6 caregivers, if not more.
With Live-In care, you have one caregiver. It can offer more of a sense of companionship and stability over the long term. In addition, you don’t have to worry as much about a caregiver “calling off” or being unable to make it at times, because the caregiver lives in the home. However, make sure you have a backup plan if that caregiver becomes sick or needs time away.
So when looking at the number of caregivers, the edge easily goes to Live-In care.
Alertness and Sleep Time
With 24/7 care, there is always an alert caregiver available, as there's no required sleep time. This means your loved one can receive immediate assistance, even during the night.
Live-in care includes mandatory sleep times and breaks for the caregiver, following legal requirements.
So when looking at caregiver alertness and sleep time, if alertness is a priority, the edge goes to 24/7 care.
Accommodations
With 24/7 care, there are no special accommodations for the caregivers since they will not be sleeping in the home.
Live-in care, since the caregiver will be living in the home, includes mandatory accommodations or sleeping arrangements such as a bedroom that is not shared, following legal requirements.
So when looking at accommodations, the edge goes to 24/7 care.
Cost
24/7 care is the more expensive option of the two. The continuous care provided demands a larger number of caregivers, which results in higher costs.
Live-in care is more budget-friendly since it involves a single caregiver, and care is not continuous.
So there you have it, a comparison of 24/7 care and live-in care. However, there is no one overall best or one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing between the 2 options. The best choice depends on your loved one's specific needs, your budget, and the timeline for starting care.
As I mentioned earlier, there is a variation of the live-in model that I would like for you to be aware of. This variation can be accomplished with multiple caregivers. For instance, one live-in caregiver can provide care on specific days of the week, and another live-in caregiver takes over for the remaining days. This can also be a more cost-effective solution when compared to 24/7 care.
Thank you for watching this video. Home Helpers Home Care of Bradenton is here to help you make the right decision for your family. We provide compassionate and professional caregivers, tailored to your unique situation. Contact us today to discuss your options and provide the best care for your loved ones.
HOME HELPERS OF BRADENTON
Home Helpers of Bradenton is one of the region's leading home care franchises specializing in comprehensive services for seniors. Home Helpers' sole mission is to make life easier for clients and their families. Based in Bradenton, Florida, the company serves all of Manatee County, including the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Palmetto, and Parrish. For more information or to request a free in-home care assessment, contact our office at (941) 499-5946 or visit our website at www.homehelpershomecare.com/bradenton
