Most seniors want to stay in their home for as long as possible. It can be challenging for families to care for their loved one, especially if they are still working or live far away.
The terms “live-in” and “24-hour” care are often used interchangeably, but there are big differences between the two. Understanding the differences will help you make the best choice and may save you money.
Live-In Care
John and Mary were managing John’s Parkinson’s Disease alone, but the tasks became too much for Mary as the demands of caring for John increased. They reached out to Preferred Care at Home of Central New Jersey for help.
Since John is still a good sleeper and Mary can manage short periods alone with him during the day, we decided a live-in caregiver would be their best bet. The caregiver is responsible for John’s personal care, the family’s meals, housekeeping, laundry, errands and more.
The caregiver takes meal breaks during quiet times of the day, and Mary is able to supervise John during these times. At all other times of the day, Mary is free to come and go giving her the chance to relax and reset. The caregiver sleeps in the bedroom next to them so she can hear if John calls her during the night. This happens infrequently so overnight coverage is not needed.
Live-in caregivers stay in the home day and night, and they provide care for set periods throughout the day. The caregiver works their schedule around the needs of your loved one so their meal breaks are barely noticed. The family has someone in the house in case something happens but only pays for about half the time. This is a big win for those who have the extra bedroom and enjoy the company.
24-Hour Care
William and Martha were managing Martha’s dementia alone, but Martha started wandering during the night. William didn’t hear her leave the house at midnight last night, and the neighbor found her wandering.
William’s health is also declining, but they are determined to stay in their home for as long as possible. Since they don’t have family nearby, they reached out to Preferred Care at Home of Central New Jersey for help.
We determined that 24-Hour care was needed. Two or three caregivers rotate in shifts to provide uninterrupted care. This type of care ensures constant supervision where the caregiver is always awake to ensure Martha is safe during the night.
24-Hour caregivers stay in the home and provide uninterrupted supervision through the day and night. Caregivers work in rotating shifts so there are always eyes on your loved one. The family is able to honor their parent’s wishes and ensure they are safe. 24-hour care is often needed to address increased confusion due to dementia, frequent falls, and decreased mobility.
Live-In Care vs 24-Hour Care
| Live-In Care | 24-Hour Care | |
| Coverage | Caregiver resides in the home and has a nearby bedroom to take breaks or rest at night. | Two-or-three caregivers rotate shifts during a 24-hour period to provide continuous care. |
| Cost | Live-in care is charged at a daily rate. This is more cost effective than 24-hour care. | Charged at an hourly rate |
| Hours Worked | The caregiver is available at all times except the following: 30-minute meal breaks three times per day and 8-hour sleep break with 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. | You control the shifts (typically 8-12 hours) and we’ll decide together if it’s safe for the caregiver to take a break. A caregiver is awake and available during the overnight hours. |
| Commitment | Care can be provided to your loved one based on your needs: 3 day respite care so the family can take a break 3 or 4 days per week to accommodate a work schedule. 7 days per week when family is not available to assist. | Care can be provided to your loved one based on your need: 3 day respite care so the family can take a break 3 or 4 days per week to accommodate a work schedule. 7 days per week when family is not available to assist. |
| Suitability | Live-in care is suitable for those who: Sleep through the night with minimal assistance and do not require constant supervision | 24-Hour Care is suitable for those who are frequently awake during the night and become more active and agitated. |
There is also an option where a live-in caregiver plus an hourly caregiver partner to provide nighttime coverage without incurring the cost of 24-hour care.
Preferred Care at Home of Central New Jersey
Preferred Care at Home of Central New Jersey is available to discuss your specific situation and offer the most affordable solution on how to best manage your loved one at home. Please call us at 609-201-2525 to discuss your needs.
