Many families have to make decisions about their loved ones as they age. When people are no longer able to take care of themselves, they may require assistance around the clock. Often, family members wish they could provide the care entirely by themselves, but that is often unrealistic. Instead, they can choose between a nurse in the home or a nursing home. The answer depends upon the specific situation.

The Individual's Request

Some people who are in nursing homes are incapable of making decisions for themselves due to declining mental abilities. However, that is not the case for all patients in need of such care. Family members should listen to the requests of their loved ones, especially those who are fully of sound mind. The family can stress that the loved one must select either an in-home nurse or a nursing home, but they can leave the choice up to the individual. Leaving one's home can be a devastating situation that emotionally destroys a person who is of full mind.

The Layout of the House

When individuals grow older and are in declining health, they are sometimes confined to a bed and must use a bedpan or other portable toilet devices. Yet again though, not all people are in the exact same circumstances. Some seniors may need in-home care or nursing home care because certain mental conditions make them a danger to themselves. However, they can still walk around their houses and use the bathrooms by themselves. Still though, they may experience physical ailments that make walking up and down the stairs impossible. In such situations, in-home care can happen only if a device exists for moving a chair up and down the stairs or if a bedroom and bathroom are available on the first floor.

The Necessity of 24/7 Care

Families also must consider whether their loved one needs care around the clock or if they need to hire someone to come over for a few hours per day. When round the clock care is necessary, many people do choose a nursing home. However, in-home nurses who offer 24/7 support are another option. Some families will hire one nurse to come during the day and another to come at night. Other families decide that they will hire one nurse to work Mondays through Fridays and another to come on Saturdays and Sundays. In any case, the logistics of the situation play a role in the choice the family makes.

The Proximity of the Nursing Home

People who live in urban and suburban areas are usually able to find a nursing home that is located quite close to where they live. That means they will still have the opportunity to see their loved ones on a regular basis. They may even have the ability to make daily visits. Yet that is not the case for all locations, especially rural ones. The nearest nursing home may be quite a distance away. That means visits might be few and far between. It also means that the loved one may feel isolated from his or her family. A person who is already in a declining condition can grow even worse if he or she does not have contact with loved ones.

The Person's Pets

Many people grow extremely close bonds with their pets, and that can be particularly true of an elderly person who has lived alone for years. Families can look into nursing homes that allow patients to bring their pets with them, but they are unlikely to find an abundance of options. That could change in the future though. In those cases, families will have to choose in-home care. The only way a nursing home would work is if the family members agree to take responsibility of the pet. Surrendering a pet to a shelter is absolutely heartbreaking for a person, especially one who is being torn from his or her own home. When family members think of all the person has done for them, they will realize that taking in the pet as their own is the right thing to do.

The Medical Necessities of the Person

Many people would like to stay in their own homes, but when their medical necessities are considered, their family members realize that is not really possible. A person who constantly needs to be hooked up to a certain piece of equipment or who needs the care of a doctor on a daily basis is likely to struggle with in-home care. In these cases, the only option may be for the person to move into a nursing home where medical care is available more readily.

This decision is a difficult one to make because both options have their benefits and their consequences, so families must choose the absolute best option for their loved one.