If you’re considering a senior living community for yourself, your parents, or your loved ones, it’s important to know how much it costs. The cost of senior living can vary greatly – but no matter which type of facility you choose, it’s incredibly expensive. The only way to find affordable options or potential savings is by searching online.
Fortunately, moving into a senior living community or facility isn’t your only option. You can enjoy the comforts of home and have all of your needs covered without spending every cent of your hard-earned retirement savings with senior home care services. And you can search for affordable, available senior housing options online right now.
Dean Mitchell / Getty ImagesWhat Does Senior Housing Usually Cost?
As of 2019, The Cost of Care Survey¹ reported that the national median rate for a one-bedroom assisted living facility increased 1.28 percent to the price of $4,051 per month.
The same report revealed that a semi-private room at a nursing home costs, on average, $7,513 a month, while a private room costs $8,517 each month. This is a total increase of 3.1 and 3.13 in the past five years, respectively. At this rate, senior living may soon become a luxury that only a few can even afford.
But, with an unexpected boom of seniors who are looking for senior living options, prices are increasing again right now. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, LeadingAge² reports the number of seniors is expected to double by 2035 – and every one of those seniors will need senior living. With senior living in high demand, prices are certain to continue increasing year after year.
And that’s why seniors are looking for more affordable options – and why senior home care services are a smart choice.
Senior Home Care Services Are the Newest Option for Aging Adults
As you age, it’s common for your friends and family to encourage senior living communities as a way to get the care you need. But, if you’re anything like most seniors, you likely don’t want to leave the home you’ve lived in for so many years.
And you aren’t alone. According to SeniorLiving.org³, 90 percent of seniors don’t want to move out of their homes and into a senior living facility. The majority of seniors want to live in their own homes and remain independent – and that’s entirely possible thanks to senior home care services.
Senior home care services provide both medical and personal care right in your home. Designed to keep seniors in their homes, senior home care brings the perks of assisted living facilities to you, making everyday activities like getting dressed, bathing, driving, and grocery shopping simpler and safer with the help of in-home care professionals.
With senior home care services, you get to keep your independence. You get to go about your days as you would normally. But you’ll also get one-on-one attention and care from a professional who can provide healthcare, perform nursing duties, and even offer companionship.
Why Senior Home Care Services Are a Better Choice
Although senior living facilities are often assumed to be the safest, best choice for aging adults, senior home care services are actually a much better choice. And these services offer huge benefits over other options.
Senior home care services include the following benefits:
- Convenience – your care will come right to your home
- Better quality of life
- Companionship – your care provider can come visit you as needed
- At-home medical care, including IVs, wound care, post-surgery care, and physical therapy
- Easy transportation that’s always available
- Home cleaning and meal preparation
- Enrichment programs – many home care services will create customized enrichment programs to help seniors enjoy life
Even more importantly, research shows that seniors can live longer and be in better health when they choose senior home care services. A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society⁴ found that seniors who receive home care after visiting the hospital live longer and have a lower risk of being rehospitalized. And that same study found that seniors paid as much as 35 percent less for their medical bills thanks to home care services.
And there are plenty of different types of senior home care services. Whether you’re looking for in-home medical care, daily help around the house, or simply someone who can stop by each week to care for your most pressing needs, senior home health care services offer it all.
How to Find Affordable Senior Home Care Services
Senior home care is affordable in any form. Completely customizable, you can adjust your services to your needs. But no matter what you need, from in-home medical care to everyday assistance, senior home care services are much more affordable than senior living options.
According to Paying for Senior Care⁵, the average cost of senior home care is $22 per hour – but some services will offer rates as low as $16 per hour. Senior living, on the other hand, costs anywhere from. $2,844 to $9,266 per month.
As the millions and millions of Baby Boomers retire over the coming years, demand for senior services – including home care services – is going to increase dramatically. Fortunately, this means there will be increased competition, driving senior home care services to offer better service and lower prices in order to earn your money.