Hourly vs. Live-In Care: Which Is Right for Your Needs?

Choosing the right home care plan for your loved one can be challenging, but we are here to help make the decision easier. Hourly and live-in care both offer the same level of compassionate, one-on-one, support. However, hourly care consists of designated times a caregiver will visit your loved one, while live-in care offers 24/7 care. Understanding your loved ones needs is important when deciding what type of care is the right fit.

Hourly Care

Hourly care provides your loved one with consistent, scheduled visits from a caregiver. You can choose a flexible schedule to accommodate your loved one's needs from assistance with routines, medication reminders, or friendly companionship. This would be a good option if your loved one requires assistance with certain tasks, or is needed specific times of the week. Some benefits of hourly care would include:

Selective Timing

You and your loved one can set up a schedule to receive care. Whether it's a few times a week, or a couple times a month, you get to decide. Make sure to ask about your care providers minimum hours as it differs for each agency. At Earth Angels, we only require an hour minimum to meet all levels of care needs.

Lower Cost

With hourly care, you pay for the hours you request which can be a cost-effective option for families not needing around-the-clock care.

Respite Care for Families

Hourly care is a good option for families needing a caregiver to fill in to ensure everyone gets well deserved rest and time to themselves.

Live-In Care

Live-in care is an around-the-clock option for loved ones needing a more consistent level of care or companionship. A caregiver would live in-home with your loved one to ensure they are safe in comfortable at all times. Live-in care is charged on a day-to-day basis, as opposed to hourly care. Some benefits of live-in care include:

Consistent Support

Having a caregiver around each day of the week provides you and your family with peace of mind. The caregiver will be there to provide 24/7 support and company.

Continuity of Care

Generally, one or two caregivers will be primarily responsible for providing care to your loved one. At Earth Angels, we have two caregivers on a two-week rotation to ensure continuous and high-quality care.

Increased Safety

Live-in care is a great option for individuals with a higher level of needs - from dementia care to mobility assistance.

When deciding between the two types of care, consider your loved one's needs, family assistance, budget, and home environment. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call (902) 405-4400 or schedule an in-home assessment to discuss the right fit for your family.