It Takes Money

when you need part-time or full-time help to stay in your home.  $12 to $20 an hour – $240 to $400 a week – $1,2480 to $20,800 a year.  Double this for full time.  

Pros – less money and can be more flexible.  Cons – not always dependable and risky if the person is not someone you know.

 to provide part-time or full-time services to keep you in your home.   $23 to $25 an hour on average – $460 to $920 a week (for 20 to 40 hours a week), $3,864 a week for 24 hour care @ $23 an hour to $550 to $1,000 a week (for 20 to 40 hours a week), $4,200 a week for 24 hour care @ $25 an hour –  from $23,920 for part-time @$23 to $218,400 for 24 hour care at $25.  

Pros – you have a team of people working for you with someone who coordinates and manages your care, your caregiver is screened and dependable and this can give you great peace of mind.  Cons – possibly less flexibility and difficult to transition to a different agency.

that can provide you with meals, transportation, assistance with your medications and the activities of daily living including bathing, dressing and eating, laundry and housekeeping and health care management and monitoring.  The average cost of assisted living is approximately $3,628 a month and $48,000 a year for a one bedroom apartment.  

Pros – you have services to help keep you healthy, some independence and social activities to enjoy.  Cons – you do things on their schedule and you are managed, you can’t choose who takes care of your needs, there is less freedom and  your home isn’t yours.

where nursing care is provided by registered professional nurses and you have bed and board, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social services, medications, supplies, equipment, and other services necessary for your health.  The average cost of skilled nursing is approximately $7,148 per month and $85,776 per year for a semi-private room – $8,121 per month and $97,452 per year for a private room.  Pros –  everything is taken care of for you including having a doctor that comes to visit you in your room and a schedule to live on.  Cons – everything is taken care of for you, meaning things just happen to you and they aren’t always good.

 so that you can stay in your home.  Services provided – cooking, cleaning, transportation to doctor’s appointments, scheduling of services and personal care provided by untrained and inexperienced family members and/or friends.