Living At Home Vs. Assisted Living In Orange County

By Rue Nichols


At some point in one's life, everyone needs some extra help and this is certainly true as we age. If you do need help with many chores of daily life, which includes everything from cooking to cleaning to bathing and getting dressed, you might be weighing whether or not to hire in-home help or perhaps moving into a facility for assisted living in Orange County. The following information can help you weigh your options.

In general, the cost of living at home is less than the cost of assisted living in Fullerton, assisted living in Tustin or assisted living in other Orange County cities. Of course, the cost of in-home care also can be expensive, depending on the level of care that you need. For some people, simply hiring a housekeeper and a gardener and having family members help with errands can be all you need. If you do need daily help with many tasks, the cost of care probably will be higher.

While assisted living in Orange County can come with a hefty price tag, financing the cost is not always impossible. After all, if you own a home, this can be sold and the proceeds can be used to pay for care. You also will be moving into a smaller space, so selling your belongings and your car also can help you raise more money for assisted living. Additionally, while the monthly cost might be high, you will no longer have to pay for costs such as mortgage payments, property tax, car or homeowners insurance, utilities and many other expenses.

One of the biggest perks of assisted living in Orange County is the huge list of amenities and services that tend to be included. In addition to the monthly fee for your assisted living apartment, most communities also include three meals per day as well as snacks in the fees. Weekly housekeeping services and weekly laundry services also typically are included. Most communities for assisted living in Tustin, Fullerton or throughout Orange County also will include help with dressing, grooming, bathing and toileting as well as medication management.

While many amenities are available, not all of them might be included in your monthly costs. The staff might list a bunch of services they provide, but these services aren't necessarily all-inclusive. Before you make your final decision on assisted living in Orange County, read the contract very carefully so that you know exactly what will be included and what might be an extra cost. After all, you don't want to move in and assume that you will receive daily help with dressing and grooming only to find out this is $200 more per month. Read over the contract and, if possible, discuss the contract with your attorney.

While assisted living might cost more than in-home care, it has one huge advantage over staying in your home. Social isolation is something that millions of older Americans face and this truly can cause life to lose its luster. Being around other people and taking part in the many activities provided at a facility for assisted living is one of the biggest perks of these facilities. An in-home caregiver isn't a friend or a true companion and often this caregiver is really the only contact many people have during the course of the week. With assisted living in Orange County, there are many residents and plenty to do.




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