According to the Genworth 2009 Annual Cost of Care Survey, on average, the annual cost to stay in a nursing home in New Hampshire is $90k; the annual cost for home care, however, is $51k. Besides the cost savings, for those that are able to remain in their own homes, it can mean a great deal. Familiar surroundings can be therapeutic, and they will have more control over the little decisions in life that mean so much.
There is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to long-term care, but a good rule across the board is that eight hours a day or less of home care will be less expensive than moving elsewhere. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that nursing home care and other types of long-term care are not covered by Medicare.
Home care promotes healing – research demonstrates that patients heal more quickly and comfortably at home versus in a hospital or nursing home setting and there is significantly less chance of re-hospitalization when recuperation is at home. (Avalere Study 2008)
Deciding what type of long-term care loved ones need when they are no longer able to live totally independently is an important decision that should not be considered lightly. But there are many instances when home care is a perfectly appropriate and less expensive care choice than nursing home placement or a permanent move to a retirement or assisted living facility. For more information on this topic, click here.