What’s the Difference Between Live-in Care and 24-hour Care for Seniors?

Written by:

Jeffrey Grossman

Published:

February 27th, 2023


If you’re a family caregiver, there’s a lot required of you. You tirelessly assist with daily tasks, errands, and personal care to ensure your loved one maintains a high quality of life as they age.

At some point, the care your loved ones need will exceed your abilities, requiring the help of a professional. Before getting to the point, it’s important to know your options.In this blog, we explain the differences between live-in care and 24-hour care, along with how to get 24-hour home care for seniors. Your loved one may not need this level of care yet, but at least you’ll be informed when making decisions in the future.

In-home elder care solutions in Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, VA and Charleston, SC.

Contact us

Live-in Care vs. 24/7 Care for Elderly Adults

Live-in care and 24-hour care for the elderly in their own home may sound similar, but they are different. One truly provides round-the-clock care for elderly adults, while the other doesn’t. In this section, we define live-in care vs. 24-hour supervision for elderly adults, so you can learn more about which one your aging loved one may need.

What Is 24-hour Elderly Care?

24-hour care for seniors is also known as full-time, round-the-clock, and 24/7 care for elderly adults. In this scenario, several caregivers take shifts, working 8-12 hour increments, to ensure that a senior receives continuous care (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) in their own home.The goal of 24/7 care for elderly adults is to support those who are unable to live alone but don’t require the intensive medical care of a hospital. 24-hour home care typically includes assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, and transferring (e.g., getting in and out of bed). Caregivers may also help with light housekeeping, meal preparation, and medication management. Trained and experienced 24-hour caregivers provide the care elderly individuals need to maintain their quality of life and independence for as long as possible.

What Is Live-in Elderly Care?

Live-in care may sound like caregivers would provide 24-hour supervision for elderly adults, but that’s not the case.A live-in caregiver physically lives in your loved one’s home or place of residence. Like 24-hour caregivers, live-in caregivers will assist with ADLs and ensure the safety of seniors throughout the day. However, unlike 24-hour caregivers, live-in caregivers are entitled to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep within a 24-hour period. This means your parent only receives 16 hours of direct, hands-on care per day. One benefit live-in care offers is a more personalized care experience since the same caregiver (or two) supports your loved one day in and day out. This can lead to a stronger relationship between the caregiver and the senior, making it easier for the caregiver to understand and respond to the senior's changing needs.If your loved one can’t sleep through the night, requiring assistance round-the-clock, 24-hour care for seniors is best. Wondering how to get 24-hour care for elderly at home? Contact Commonwise Home Care.

How to Get 24-hour Supervision for Elderly Parents

While not all seniors are capable of living alone, AARP reports that 90% of people over 65 want to age in place. 24-hour care at home for elderly loved ones can provide you with peace of mind knowing that they are safe in the place where they want to live. At Commonwise Home Care, we’re experts in elder care. We offer a wide range of elder care services to support you and your aging family member: 

We understand the burden placed on family caregivers, and we want to help alleviate it. Whether your senior parent needs a helping hand around the house for a few hours a day or 24-hour supervision, we have a care solution for them. Our team of elder care professionals is dedicated to maintaining the health and independence of seniors while supporting adult children throughout the process.Enable your elderly parent to age in place safely, reducing family friction and undue stress for them, by contacting Commonwise Home Care today.

In-home elder care solutions in Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, VA and Charleston, SC.

Contact us
Previous
Previous

How to Take Care of an Elderly Parent

Next
Next

Where Can I Find Local Physical Therapy in Virginia?