Compare and Contrast Essay on Homecare v Nursing Home

Introduction

As people age, it often comes a time when a new level of care and assistance becomes necessary. A combination of old age and illness makes it impossible for individuals to perform daily tasks efficiently. When such a significant change in care becomes a necessity, an often debated issue is whether the person should be admitted to a nursing home or continue to age in place at home. Many seniors have opted for homecare due to the level of comfort and familiarity they have come to enjoy in their homes. Nursing homes, on the other hand, offer a highly dedicated level of care, a proper social environment, medical services, and numerous other benefits. Nursing homes are the best option since they can offer a range of services that cannot be easily replicated at home.

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Body

Access to expert medical care is a vital requirement for senior citizens with medical conditions. Access to proper care at home is possible since there are companies that offer such services. However, the degree of care may vary, and sometimes the conditions are too delicate to be easily managed at home. Families may end up paying a lot of money in the long run to hire people like massage therapists (Hammons, 2018). Nursing homes assure the residents of medical-level care round the clock (Barker, 2018). The types of services offered range from prescription administration, constant monitoring of vital signs, and emergency medical services (Hammons, 2018). Having medical care from registered nurses on hand is a crucial factor towards the well-being and safety of a senior.

Nursing homes take in the elderly and allow the rest of the family to continue with their daily routines (Nemirow, 2011). Those who support homecare have argued that staying at home allows the individual to age in familiar surroundings. In fact, most senior citizens prefer to age in place instead of moving to a new community, even one that suits their physical life, since it gives them peace of mind (Ball, 2018). Changes in financial concerns, property taxes, home maintenance, mobility, and health care needs make home care a challenging proposition. Many family members are forced to become caretakers under the homecare program, and it can take up a lot of their time since the elderly might need assistance with many activities (Nemirow, 2011). The family members are already busy with their own lives, and hence they are forced to spread themselves thin to manage. Nursing homes are ideal ways of taking away this burden while offering superior and dedicated care. Family members can also schedule visits to the nursing home to help ease senior citizens into this new life.

Nursing homes offer residents the advantage of living in a social environment of their peers (Nemirow, 2011). One of the key drawbacks of home care is that senior citizens may end up suffering from loneliness and isolation. Family members might be far away or too busy always to be there to keep them company. Social, educational, and recreational services play a primary role in ensuring the mental well-being of senior citizens (Ball, 2018). Nursing homes offer many social and recreational advantages to the residents. Patients can engage in art projects, play bridge, attend dances, and go to the gym (Barker, 2018). The elderly have a built-in social network that consists of their peers, and hence they can even talk, share life experiences, and make new friends. The environment at a nursing home will keep the residents engaged and away from depression and boredom.

Conclusion

Residents stand to gain a lot from nursing home facilities. The superior medical-grade care ensures that the patient is covered in the event of an emergency. Nursing homes also free the family members to continue their daily routines uninterrupted. The built-in social environment ensures that boredom and depression are kept at bay. The conditions of nursing homes are uniquely designed to ensure residents live out the rest of their days in comfort and safety, something that may be challenging to replicate at home.

References

Ball, S. (2018). Aging in Place: A Tool Kit for Local Governments. Atlanta: Community Housing Resource Center. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/plan/planning/aging-in-place-a-toolkit-for-local-governments-aarp.pdf

Barker, L. (2018). What Are the Advantages of Nursing Homes?. Retrieved from https://oureverydaylife.com/advantages-nursing-homes-5110171.html

Hammons, M. (2018). Home Care vs. Nursing Home. Retrieved from https://www.senioradvisor.com/blog/2015/08/home-care-vs-nursing-home/

Nemirow, A. (2011). Advantages of Nursing Homes Over Home Care. Retrieved from https://www.disabled-world.com/medical/rehabilitation/advantages.php