In home care costs are going to be discussed with ever-increasing frequency as huge numbers of Americans join the over-65 set. As questions of these costs increase, however, so do the number of answers.
While it might seem completely unrelated to the discussion of in-home care costs, consider babysitting. “But my elderly mother certainly doesn’t need a babysitter.” Of course not. But that iconic image of a teenager watching a child for a few hours in a private home is a perfect starting point for discussing in how much it costs to take care of elderly parents at home. Maybe that 15-year-old babysitter earns a flat rate of $10 an hour. Or, maybe there are three young children in this babysitter’s care. And don’t forget the dog will need to be walked. Is she allowed free rein in the kitchen? Perhaps you’re hoping she’ll actually make dinner for the kids.
In a sense, that list of variables in our hypothetical babysitter’s duties are going to greatly affect her fee – an elementary analogy for discussion of in home care costs. The variables facing a professional aide might differ from those facing a teenage babysitter, but in both scenarios it’s those variables that determine how much this care costs.
In Home Care Costs May Be Among Most Reasonable And Flexible When Securing High-Quality Care
These variables, however, shouldn’t be seen as just one cost being added to another. Rather, these variables are the puzzle pieces that allow you some flexibility. Bypassing the babysitter, maybe that busy parent would prefer sending the kids off to boarding school. The kids will be looked after around the clock, but the associated costs have also left that $10-an-hour rate the babysitter was charging seeming utterly insignificant by comparison.
In home care costs may differ in that they are easier to tailor. They might rise on an hourly scale, for example, on weekends or holidays. But weekends and holidays may be just the times you have to spend with your loved ones, the times when you have no need for a professional aide. Looking at your resources, you can tailor the services of a professional aide to minimize in-home care costs in ways that aren’t possible with a full-time facility.
In home care is not some new burden to add to your bottom line. Rather, such care is an option that can lessen overall expenses by helping you tailor services to your particular circumstance. Speaking with a professional provider of such services, you may just find that in-home care costs are more reasonable – and liberating – than you’d ever imagined.
For more information about homecare costs and a free assessment for you or your loved one, call Comfort Home Care today at 301-984-7681.
