As we were all born and need care from those who bring us into this world, we all age and need the help of those we raised through life. There are options in life when it comes to getting older and whether you choose home care or a care home for yourself is going to be a very personal decision.

One of the biggest considerations with this decision is the cost, as care homes are not cheap. Paying for senior home care in North Nashville, for example, and having carers come to your home, where you are in familiar surroundings, is the most popular decision when it comes to planning out the future of your care needs.

This will largely depend on your personal needs as you age, as well as whether you have the capability to decide for yourself. A decision like this should always be noted in a will, set up properly with a lawyer present. This way, if your health declines to a point where you cannot make medical decisions for yourself, your decisions are already made for yourself.

Entering A Care Home

Deciding whether you should choose to move into a care home or receive care in your own home will be a difficult decision, as the rigidity of a care home can make it feel like you are stuck. Not everyone feels this way, as for some a care home is a place of safety where they feel secure and looked after.

Being ‘put in a home’ is a scary idea for some people, especially when there are media stories that show vulnerable adults in homes have been subjected to abusive conditions in a care home. The good news is that companies like LawyersthatFightForYou.com are always on hand to be of assistance if any kind of abuse does come to light, to make sure that you are taken care of at home during a court case. Of course, these stories make the national media because they aren’t heard of, with the carers who behave that way being in a serious minority.

There are two types of care home: those without the needs for nurses, but personal care dealt with by carers, and those with the need for 24-hour nurses on staff as well as personal care being a priority. Spouses are usually allowed to live in a home with you if you do become ill and have the need for round the clock care.

All personal care is dealt with carefully written care plans by trained staff who understand how to care for the elderly. For instance, there are even places that have been specifically designed around those with dementia, with continuous corridors and lights always on. Of course, there are pros and cons to deciding to live in a care home, and these are:

Pros to living in a care home:

• Your bills and food costs are inclusive in your care home fees
• It’s a safe and secure option, as care homes are under lock and key all day and night.
• There will always be organised activities to keep you busy, with some care homes bringing in stylists and beauticians every week.
• Trained staff will understand your every need and be there for you.

Cons to living in a care home:

• The expense can mean you need to sell your home or belongings to afford it.
• You get one room to live in after a lifetime of a whole house.
• Independence is compromised as you live life to the routine of the care home and not your own choice.
• If you have pets, you cannot keep them.
• You have to live with other residents, and you don’t get to choose who.

Considering Home Care

Home care is vastly different to a care home. In a home, you are running to the routine of the home from wake-up time to bedtime. In a home, you also don’t get to choose who you live with, which can make you feel vulnerable when you are already in a vulnerable position.

Home care literally means being cared for in your own home, with your belongings around you. Of course, home care will not always be an option, especially if you have any conditions that limit your movement.

With home care, you get visited by carers at specific times each day and they can have a key to your home to let themselves in if you live alone. They can help you with your personal care, taking you out to get your shopping and even help you to prepare your meals if you don’t have a ‘meals on wheels’ service.

You can get assistance with home alarms being installed, adaptations to your home to make life easier for you – such as shower bars and stairlifts. Home care also means you can sign up to services at local day centers, so that you can get out and about and be social if you want to be. As with care homes, though, there are pros and cons, and these are listed below:

Pros to home care:

• You don’t have to leave your home, which is your comfort and your space that you have lived in for many years.
• Your social circle and familiar neighbours stay the same, which can give you security.
• Your house is not taken into account when calculating how much you can afford on care, so you will not have to sell up to take care of yourself.
• You remain in control of your own life.

Cons to home care:

• Living alone can be rather lonely.
• You won’t know your support workers initially, meaning you can feel like strangers are coming into your home.
• You could still be at risk, even with all new alarms installed.

Knowing your options is so important, and you have to be able to make these decisions when you are of sound enough mind to do so. Discuss with your partner and children what you would like for your care when you become elderly and plan it out properly as early as possible. You need to know that your secure future is waiting for you, no matter what happens in your life.