Types of Elder Care

Elder care is a general term given to assistance provided for seniors who require help with daily living activities such as eating, bathing and walking. Medicare typically does not cover the cost of elder care, explains medicare.gov. Typically, state-sponsored welfare health insurance called Medicaid, long-term care insurance proceeds or personal savings are used to finance the cost. When choosing care for yourself or a loved one, a variety of types are available, each with its own defining characteristics and benefits.

Skilled Nursing Homes

• A skilled nursing home is a residential facility intended for seniors who have a medical condition that requires close observation by medical professionals. These conditions are typically chronic or unstable in nature, meaning they will continue over a long period of time and do not require daily care from a doctor like seniors would receive in a hospital. Since they provide the highest degree of medical care, skilled nursing homes are typically the most expensive types of elder care. As of 2009, the average cost per year for a private room in a skilled nursing home was $79,935, according to the 2009 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs.

Assisted Living Homes

• In an assisted living, or personal care home, seniors receive help with daily living activities such as toileting and eating. Patients live in the facility around the clock and receive care primarily from workers who are not trained medical professionals. Seniors in assisted living homes may need to take medicines or have other minor medical concerns. Overall, however, their medical conditions do not require constant supervision from nurses. Assisted living homes often organize social activities for residents such as outings, Bingo games and musical performances. The average annual cost for assisted living homes was $37,572 as of 2009, reports the 2009 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs. Since they do not provide medical care, Medicare and Medicaid might not cover the cost of assisted living homes.

Home Health Care

• Home health care services provide elder care on-site in the personal residences of seniors in an effort to allow them to stay in their homes for as long as possible. With these services, trained medical workers such as nursing assistants and registered nurses perform tasks that include changing bandages and catheters, administering treatments such as kidney dialysis and monitoring vital signs. Some services also employ licensed professionals who give physical, respiratory, occupational or speech therapy in patients' homes. Home health care services typically assess an hourly rate. The average across the United States was $21 per hour as of 2009, according to the 2009 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs. Depending on their condition, seniors receiving home health care service might require visits just one hour per week or have professionals visit daily for more than one hour at a time.

Adult Day Care

• Adult day care services provide care for seniors during daylight hours, while the patients' family or other caregivers work, run errands or complete other tasks. Seniors who receive care from adult day care services typically live in their own residences and require assistance performing tasks such as walking. Typically, seniors in adult day care do not require medical treatment during the course of the day, besides routine care such as taking pills. Adult day care services organize activities for seniors like crafts and games and provide meals. As of 2009, the average cost of adult day care in the United States was $67, reports the 2009 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs.