I recently received a call from Tom in Mt. Laurel NJ asking about home care for his parents. His Mother is 84 years old and Dad is 86.  They live in a lovely two bedroom condo in a retirement community but recent calls by his parents to 911 have signaled to Tom that his parents can no longer live alone.   His Mother has diabetes, needs assistance with medications and due to a recent fall and hospitalization, some help with dressing and bathing. His Dad is more independent, but has macular degeneration and is not able to cope with his wife’s care.  Tom was surprised to learn that the cost of home care was comparable to assisted living costs and scheduled tours at two of the nearby Assisted living communities in Wilmington Delaware.

Assited living is ideal for people needing help throughout the day and want to remain active and independent in an environment that provides around the clock caregivers.  Residents in assisted living are encouraged to do as much as possible on their own and are surrounded by others who are still fairly independent so residents in assisted living tend to remain healthier, more involved and active than seniors who remain isolated in their home with a caregiver who provides a few hours of homecare per day.