Geriatric Care vs. Home Care: What are the Differences?

Geriatric care and home care are the two common elderly care services used to address several age-related issues. Ageing is a natural phenomenon and often comes with several issues and impairments. Age-related issues usually include physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive problems.

To address these issues, you may choose one of the senior care services. You can choose an elderly care service according to the specific needs of your beloved family member. These senior care services include geriatric care, home care, and assisted living communities. However, you may find it confusing to choose a service that best suits your elderly parents or other older adults in the family. 

The best thing is to consider the specific needs of an elderly adult and choose a service accordingly. In this blog, you will be guided through a comparison between geriatric care and home care. To understand the basic difference between the two elder care services, continue reading.

Geriatric Care: Service to Promote Elderly Support

Geriatric service is considered an important service for elderly support. Both medical and non-medical services are being covered under this service for old-age parents or family members. Assistance in daily activities and specific medical services like occupational therapy, physical therapy, IV therapy, and dialysis are being covered under the home care services. The service can be availed for a shorter period or on a long-term basis. 

You can consider geriatric care for a shorter period, e.g. to help your elder family members recover from surgery. This service can also be availed for long terms in cases where an elderly adult is suffering from a chronic medical condition. Next, geriatric services are more suited for seniors who need consistent medical support for living. So, the service is more specific to cater to the medical needs of an elderly person.

When Should You Seek Geriatric Care?

• The need for a geriatric care service arises when older adults in the family need help in managing a medical condition. You can consider hiring this service if your old-age parents are not able to cover their medical care by themselves.
• Geriatric care can be sought for an elderly adult to assist in recovering from surgery or other medical conditions. You can hire this service to assist your elderly adults in recovering and taking care of daily activities, too.
• Sometimes a doctor or healthcare professional suggests geriatric care for older adults. Doctors or professionals monitor signs and symptoms of deteriorating health and suggest geriatric care.
• You can also meet a geriatric care manager to determine whether an elderly adult in the family needs this specific service or simple home care services.

Where Can I Find Geriatric Care for a Senior Over 65?

Well, you can find geriatric care services in many places. Some of the sources for getting geriatric care are as follows: 

1. Doctor’s Clinic: You can find geriatric care services in the doctor’s clinic. Geriatric services can be availed during routine examination, diagnosis, and treatment. 
2. At Home: Geriatric care services can be arranged in home settings for seniors suffering from chronic medical conditions. In-home care services are essential for elderly support. 
3. Daycare Facility Center: Geriatric services can also be availed for a daycare facility center. The services available in daycare centers may include Medical, rehabilitative, cognitive, and social services. All these services are provided during daytime hours, and this caregiving difference separates geriatric care from home care. 
4. Hospitals: Hospitals also provide geriatric care services to elderly adults. Hospitals provide these services for recovering from conditions like strokes or Brain Hemorrhages. You can avail of this service under long-term hospital care. 
5. Long-Term Care Facility Center: You can also find round-the-clock geriatric services in assisted living centers and nursing homes. These centers offer 24x7 medical services and personal care services to elderly adults.

Home Care – The Caregiving Differences

Home care services for seniors are ideal to provide a dignified and independent life. Home care services mean supporting an elderly adult in daily activities. These services are more suited to an individual who doesn’t require specific medical attention but requires support for daily life activities. 

Under home care service, your loved ones receive assistance in eating and meal preparation. Dressing, bathing, and getting around can also be assisted by a home service caregiver. Apart from this, home care services also support an elderly adult in housekeeping, pet care, and transportation. You can hire a home care provider according to the specific needs of your older family member. 

Home care service is available for limited hours and also for day-long care, depending on the requirement. In addition, you can determine the needs of elderly adults before hiring a home care provider. If your elderly parents are finding it difficult to perform basic daily activities like bathing, eating, going out, etc. It is the right time to hire a home service provider and support your older parents in living independently. 

However, before appointing a home service provider, engage your older adults in decision-making.

Home Care: Benefits for Seniors

There can be no more advantages to anolder adult receiving all needed care in home settings. Thus, remaining in contact with family members is essential to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle. In addition, home care service is specific to provide personalized care to an elderly adult. 

Home care also boosts a feeling of companionship among the elders as the caregiver remains in close contact with them. So, home care services help eliminate the feeling of isolation among aged people. All daily needs are being addressed under home care services. Eating, bathing, dressing, and other activities are being taken care of when you hire a home care service for older adults in your family. Home care services also promote nutrition care for the elderly. 

You will notice a home care provider offering help in preparing nutritious meals for elders. Nutritious meals are essential to boost a healthy lifestyle and maintain physical strength. Family caregivers also receive help from a professional home service caregiver. You can get released from responsibilities and focus on your personal and professional life. Thus, home care service assures peace of mind to all family members.

Caregiving Differences Between Geriatric Care vs. Home Care

Home Care	Geriatric Care
Addressing daily needs like bathing, dressing, eating, and taking medicine	Addressing more specific needs, like medical attention for chronic diseases
Helps in medication management and monitoring health conditions	Provides specific services like occupational therapy, physical therapy, IV therapy, and dialysis
Home care services are limited to home settings only	Can be availed in home settings, hospitals, day-care facility centers, and long-term facility centers.
Trained individuals like registered nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, and social workers	Geriatric care is offered by doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists
Boosts companionship and eliminates feelings of isolation	Supports mobility and access to healthcare
Best for supporting basic daily life activities.	Ideal for chronic care management
Helps in maintaining the quality of life for elderly adults	Helps in fast recovery after surgery or other medical treatments

Responsibilities of a Geriatric Care Manager

Responsibilities associated with a Geriatric Manager job are: 

• As a Geriatric Manager, you have to coordinate elder care services through various service providers.
• Plans for maintaining health are also being framed by a Geriatric Manager. Plans can be short-term or long-term.
• Monitor and help in eliminating issues like emotional concerns, stress, and anxiety.
• Helping in managing transitional care and also supporting in hiring caregivers.
• The Geriatric Manager makes frequent visits to the home and evaluates living conditions.
• Geriatric Managers always keep assessing the ageing life care needs.

Responsibilities of a Home Care Service Provider

Home care service providers, usually a professional nurse or therapists, work in close coordination with family members. Providing support to elderly adults in performing daily life activities is the primary job of a home care service provider. Understanding the needs of older adults and offering personalized services is also included in the job of a home care service provider.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both geriatric care and home care services are equally important for older adults. The services can be availed according to the needs of any older adult. Aged adults suffering from chronic illnesses and physical impairment may require the geriatric service. 

On the other hand, older adults finding daily life activities difficult may need a home care service provider. Therefore, elder care services are associated with the specific needs of an elderly adult. Moreover, both services are being offered by professionals and trained individuals.