What type of long-term care is right for my loved one?

There are many different types of long-term care for seniors, and it is important to know the differences between them and the advantages to each in order to make the best choice for your loved one.



In this article, we’ll cover 4 different types of long-term care for seniors who need varying levels of support in their day-to-day life. Generally speaking, we will begin with the option with the highest level of independence and end with the highest level of support, but each option is usually customizable to your unique needs.

In-home care

In-home care is a beneficial option for seniors who wish to retain a lot of their independence. This type of support involves a caregiver coming to your loved one’s home a few times per week to help with some elements of daily life like grocery shopping, laundry, meal prep or some personal grooming care. While these caregivers may on occasion check vitals, providing medical care is not generally their specialty so this type of care is not recommended for someone who may need help with their medical diagnosis.

Home Health Agencies

If your loved one wishes to remain at home but needs a more hands-on approach to their medical care, we recommend a home health agency. This type of provider is licensed by the state to provide some elements of medical care in a home setting and is perfect for those who need a bit more support but are not in need of full-time care.

Assisted Living

For those individuals who need even more care, an assisted living community may be the right fit. This type of live-in community gives its members around-the-clock support in a comfortable environment. In many cases assisted living communities offer wellness programs, social programming as well as housekeeping and meal services.

Nursing Home

If your loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness or disability, a nursing home may be the best fit for them. In a nursing home, individuals have the highest level of support at all times from skilled nurses trained to care for their specific diagnosis.

Making the Right Choice for your Loved One

Of course, the 4 care options we’ve outlined above are by no means all-inclusive. If you find that certain elements of one type of care seem to fit your situation while another type of care may be better in other areas, we encourage you to speak with your doctor for a more personalized recommendation.

If you feel that in-home care or a home health agency may be the right fit for your loved one, give us a call at 610-991-7470! Our team of caregivers is standing by to help you make the right choice for your situation.