Side by side
| Home care | Assisted living | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Your parent's own home | An apartment or room in a licensed community |
| Help included | Only the help you schedule, such as bathing, meals, errands, and companionship | Meals, housekeeping, activities, and help with daily tasks, often by care level |
| Night supervision | Only if you schedule overnight or live-in care | Staff on site around the clock |
| Cost structure | Hourly, so cost rises with hours of help | Monthly rate plus care level fees |
The questions that usually decide it
- How many hours of help does your parent need each day, and at night?
- Is the home safe and practical, with stairs, bathrooms, and access to help?
- Is loneliness or isolation part of the problem?
- How strongly does your parent want to stay at home?
- How much can family realistically help, and for how long?
- What does the budget look like for each option over a year or more?
With few hours of help needed, home care is often less expensive. As hours grow, especially toward round-the-clock care, the cost of home care can exceed a monthly community rate. See home care costs and senior living costs to compare.