Assisted living vs home care: which option is right for you?

Assisted living vs home care? While it might sound like the top billing for a pay-per-view fight, choosing the right care option doesn’t have to be a challenge.

But finding the right support for your needs can bring a mix of emotions. It can also just feel like you’re losing independence, but we think it’s quite the opposite. When you get the right care, whether that’s assisted living or home care, it can make all the difference.

Whether you want to stay at home in the place you love or explore a community that offers connection and convenience, you’ve got options. And we’re here to help you understand them, so you can choose what’s right for you.

There are a lot of terms out there to learn when you look for aging care options. We want to note an important distinction between non-medical and medical home care.

Non-medical home care can be split into two types: homemakers and home health aides, but most of the time it’s a single caregiver filling both roles. Homemaker duties include running errands, light organizing and cleaning around the house, and cooking meals. A home health aide is a professionally trained caregiver and their duties include support with ADLs like dressing, bathing, and toileting or IADLs such as preparing meals and shopping for groceries. 

Medical home care, known as home health care, is for people who need assistance with medical needs. A home health care provider is a trained clinician who can assist with injections, medications, and health monitoring. Services such as the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) can be ordered by your doctor after a hospital discharge to provide some nursing oversight with physical and occupational therapy.

What if you want both types of care? No problem. Many older adults and their loved ones opt to enlist both home care and home health care assistance. This way you can ensure your care mix caters to every need.

For this article, however, we’ll look at non-medical home care compared to assisted living. 

Picture this: You’re in a place where meals are prepared for you in a dining room, laundry is off your to-do list, and friends, scheduled activities, and leisure are right outside your door. It might sound like a cruise ship, but it’s also the promise of assisted living.

Assisted living is a type of long-term care for older adults who are mostly independent but may need support with one or more of the ADLs. An assisted living community is a residential setting where support is built in, and your day is yours to enjoy. 

Assisted living: community, convenience, and care all in one place 

Living in an assisted living community allows you to maintain your independence while getting the help and support you need.

Assisted living communities typically include: 

• Support with ADLs 

• Social activities 

• Transportation services 

• Housekeeping and laundry services 

• Restaurant-style dining 

• Medication management 

• 24/7 staff support

Assisted living communities may have some nursing care available, but it is generally not available 24/7, such as in a nursing center. 

Just because you need some support doesn’t mean you have to leave the place you love to recieve it. Home care, also known as personal care, is care that’s provided right in the comfort of your own home. 

Home care: personalized support, right at home 

Depending on your care needs, you can get support right at home.

When you have home care you typically receive: 

• Basic companionship 

• Housekeeping 

• ADL support 

• IADL support 

• Transportation

Long gone are the days of limited aging care options. Today you’ve got lots of options with different levels of care to best suit your needs. Both assisted living and home care offer valuable support and care when you need it, but their main differences are their setting and services.

Here’s how the two compare:

Assisted living:

• Residential community 

• Ongoing, structured support 

• Many options to socialize with other residents 

• Meals and housekeeping included 

• Set routines to meet needs of all residents 

• Staff present 24/7 

Home care:

• Inside comfort of your home 

• Flexible and personalized support 

• One-on-one care 

• Meals and housekeeping may require additional hired services if needed 

• The schedule can be customized 

Assisted living communities offer an enriching community environment where you can enjoy social activities, dining, and around-the-clock support from staff members. Because assisted living communities are managed residences, you can say goodbye to home maintenance and chores.

On the other hand, home care brings the care you need right to your doorstep. It offers flexible scheduling and one-on-one care, which is great if you prefer to age in place and want tailored support.  

You know yourself best — and your care should reflect that. Choosing between assisted living and home care comes down to what kind of daily life makes you feel the most supported and comfortable.

Assisted living is ideal if you value routine, community, and convenience. It offers enriching environment with activities, amenities, and constant support.

Jessica Donahue says that all types of people can enjoy assisted living, but it can be especially beneficial for those who like to be around others.

“If you’re a social person, you like being around others, you like doing activities with other people, you’ll thrive in that assisted living environment,” Donahue said. “There are plenty of introverts in assisted living, but what I think is sadder by far is the extroverts at home alone.”

While assisted living communities offer plenty of great amenities, they may not work for everyone. Apartments may be smaller than your previous home so you may have to downsize your belongings. Since meals are provided in the restaurant-style dining rooms your assisted living apartment likely won’t have a full kitchen.  

You may not want or need to move to an assisted living community, but still need some support. That’s where home care comes in. You can personalize your care in a way that you can’t in the structured setting of an assisted living community. It’s a great option if you want to live at home, but need some support with ADLs or want companionship.

“Home care is great because you can be in your own home, you have your own space,” Donahue said. “If you’re at home getting care, you’re in more control of your schedule and routine.”

While in-home care allows you to stay at home, you may have to also include other services that in-home care doesn’t provide such as landscaping, home maintenance, and cleaning.

Choosing the right care is about receiving care that meets your personal preferences and health needs, but cost matters too. The cost of assisted living vs home care can vary depending on where you live, how much care you need, and what services you want.

Let’s compare the costs of each type of care. According to the latest Cost of Care survey data in 2024, these are the national monthly median costs of assisted living communities vs home care:

• Assisted living community: $5,900 

• Homemaker: $6,292 

• Home health aide: $6,483

Assisted living communities usually come with a monthly fee that includes housing, meals, activities, and basic care services all wrapped into one price. This can make it easier to budget, but can be more expensive if you don’t need all the services. Home care can offer more flexibility – you only pay for the hours and services you need – but as care needs increase, the cost can rise, especially if 24/7 support is required. 

No matter what care looks like for you, your comfort and well-being are what matter most. 

Both assisted living and home care offer care, just in different places and at different levels. What’s important is understanding your care needs and lifestyle preferences. Having an honest discussion with yourself or with your family can help you find the right solution to fit your budget and your care needs.