Assisted Living vs .Home Care
Assisted living and home care both allow seniors to maintain independence while receiving care.
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- Home care and assisted living both provide care for people who need a little extra help with day-to-day tasks.
- Home care allows seniors to receive the help they need while aging in place from the comfort of their own homes.
- Assisted living provides a sense of community and a senior-friendly place to live for people who need some daily assistance. Determine if assisted living is the right option for you or your loved one, or if home care may be the better choice.
Is it harder to do the things you used to do? Are things like grocery shopping, driving, and self-care taking a lot of extra time and effort? Do you see an older loved one struggling? Don’t worry. This is a normal part of aging, and it doesn’t mean living independently is over.
With a thriving senior population in America, senior living and assistance services are widely available. These services help older adults stay safe, healthy, and independent as they age. If you or your loved one can do a lot independently but need a little extra help, in-home care and assisted living are two of your options.
Our free housing and care finder uses your unique needs to curate a list of the best options in your area.
Home Care: Helping Seniors Age in Place
You’ve created a life for yourself in your home, so you probably want to stay there for as long as possible — as many older adults do. You want to keep your routine and sleep in your own bed. Home care allows for just that. You stay at home, and the professionals come to you. How long they stay and how they help depends on your specific needs. They’ll assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) and other needs, such as hygiene assistance, meal prep, medication reminders, companionship, transportation, emergency call systems, and more.
Pro Tip: Do you or a loved one require more support than assisted living can provide? Consider comparing the pros and cons of nursing homes vs. home care.
In-home care varies widely. One person — or sometimes several — visit regularly. The options usually fall into four categories:
- Licensed medical professional care
- Nonmedical paraprofessional care
- Dementia home care
- Alzheimer's home care
If you require medical attention such as shots or therapy, you'll need a licensed medical professional. These professionals include physicians, physician's assistants, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and home health aides under the direction of a physician.
Need help with ADLs? Turn to nonmedical paraprofessionals. They help with cooking, shopping, bathing, laundry, and companionship. The choices include personal care attendants, homemakers, companions, and home health aides. Family members may be able to help with this part too.
Dementia home care services are for seniors who have progressive disorders such as Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or a form of dementia. Those in the early stages will need at least part-time help. Depending on how far your condition has progressed, 24-hour monitoring may be the safest option. Be sure to look for a certified dementia care manager.
Alzheimer's home care services offer daily assistance or full-time memory care. Families who need a temporary break from caregiving can hire a respite care worker too. These professionals help with chores, errands, meal prep, memory care, and personal hygiene. Their goal is to keep your loved one as safe and comfortable as possible.
Assisted Living Facilities: Helping Seniors Live Independently Away from Home
With assisted living, seniors move into a staffed facility. Assisted living facilities offer shared or private rooms in a community of older adults. The room might have a kitchen, or it might just be a bedroom and bathroom. It’s a lot different from a nursing home, since you won’t have constant supervision or medical treatment, but 24-hour personal assistance is available. Caregivers help with bathing, dressing, medication management, meal services, and transportation as needed. Housekeeping, laundry, physical therapy, and memory care may cost extra.
You may know assisted living facilities (ALF) by another name, such as residential care facilities, adult care homes, or retirement homes. For more information about assisted living facilities and who they are best for, watch our video below.
Comparing Assisted Living and In-Home Care
| Assisted Living | In-Home Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly cost | $5,511 | $5,892 (44 hours per week) |
| Private pay | Yes | Yes (most common) |
| Medicaid | Limited | Limited |
| Medicare | Limited | Limited |
| SSI | Yes | Yes |
| Veterans aid | Yes | Yes |
| Long-term care insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Grants | Yes | Yes |
| Services | ||
| Activities of daily living | Yes | Yes |
| Medication management | Yes | Yes |
| Physical/occupational therapy | Varies | No |
| Skilled nurse | No | No |
| Meals/meal prep | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes | Varies |
| Social activities | Yes | Limited |
| Housekeeping | Yes | Yes |
Cost of Assisted Living vs. Home Care
Don’t let the average costs scare you away. How much you pay depends on where you live and what you need help with. For full-time care, assisted living is the cheapest on average. As of 2024, the median cost of assisted living was $5,511 per month, which covers a private room and core services. The typical range is somewhere between $3,000 and $6,000 per month, or $36,000 and $72,000 per year. Some ALFs charge a separate move-in fee or a fee for specialized services.
You may think in-home care would be cheaper, but that’s not always the case. Part-time care is generally less expensive, but full-time care can cost much more. The hourly price can reach up to $40 per hour. How much you pay depends on insurance, veteran’s benefits, services, and location. A home health aide costs an average of $6,481 per month for 40 or more hours of care. That does not include personal living expenses, and costs such as trash, sewer, property taxes, mortgage payments, water, and electricity can add up.
When family members act as caregivers, in-home care is the cheapest option by far.
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Social Opportunities
Being social is essential for good health. Living alone makes you more prone to social isolation, which, in turn, can lead to depression. Luckily, both types of care can help prevent social isolation and depression.
In-home caretakers offer companionship. You might play cards together, talk about the news, do daily crafts, or practice memory activities. Some may help with transportation, going to the movies, catching up with friends, or attending church together. Staying in the same neighborhood keeps friends and regular activities close by. Plus, you can still enjoy family get-togethers at home, where everyone already feels comfortable.
When you hear the phrase “assisted living,” you may initially think of bingo, holiday parties, and group outings. In an ALF, you live near your peers—sort of like back in your college days. There are shared meals, organized social events, art classes, and group trips. With so many people nearby, it’s easy to connect with others and fulfill social needs.
Safety
No matter where you live, you want to be safe. Assisted living communities were created to keep seniors safe, and they have accessible senior-friendly housing, security, and 24-hour personal care services.
FYI: Is safety a top concern for you or your loved one? Check out SeniorLiving.org’s senior safety guide!
Aging at home is safe too. It may just take some extra effort. Installing a medical alert system is one option. It puts help within reach if you or your loved one lives alone. Other modifications, such as widening doorways, putting in stair lifts, purchasing medication-reminder technology, and using GPS tracking devices, can also help make the home safer.
Convenience
A big perk of in-home care is its convenience. No one has to move, sell their house, or break their routine. You or your loved one can sleep in your own bed and enjoy familiarity. There are also no rules to follow, such as a ban on pets or quiet hours you must adhere to, as there may be in an assisted living community.
Moving—no matter where you’re going—is often inconvenient. You have to pack up your stuff and sell your home, and then find a new routine and start over. That can be cause for worry. If there’s not adequate care in your town, you or your loved one may have to relocate and move farther away from your family. There are, however, still plenty of perks with ALFs, such as creating friendships, delicious meals, and activities that are readily available.
Quality of Life
If you’re like 90 percent of older adults, you probably want to live in your own home. You’ll feel happier with in-home care because you’re doing what you want. Plus, your home is yours. It’s comfortable and familiar, which helps when it comes to coping with illness or recovery. In-home dementia and Alzheimer’s patients take nearly 50 percent fewer trips to the doctor. Living at home eases their stress and anxiety.
Assisted living facilities offer happiness, too, but it takes some getting used to. Meeting new people, finding a new routine, and adjusting to community life can cause stress and anxiety. Missing family and friends is also tough for both seniors and their families, but moving to an ALF can also be exciting. You will fulfill your social needs and have fewer worries, such as fewer bills and maintenance to keep up with.
Choosing What's Right for You
Spend time considering whether home care or assisted living is right for you or your loved one. Both have similar goals: helping seniors age while staying as independent as possible. The most important thing is that you choose what will keep everyone happy, healthy, and safe without breaking the bank.
After deciding what’s best, you can begin your search for a qualified caregiver or facility. Look through our provider directory or call us on our helpline. We’re happy to help you find the best care in your area today.
