What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Caregiving?

There are two main types of care for seniors who are aging in place and need help in caring for themselves:

1. The first is formal, which means that a paid professional takes care of the older adult.  
2. The second type is an informal caregiver, which covers many of the same responsibilities and, in many instances, more than a formal caregiver but is not paid for their caregiving duties. The typical informal caregiver for seniors is a family member, or someone in the older adult’s close social network, or in some cases a roommate. 

See How do people get paid to take care of a family member?

What is the difference between a companion and a caregiver? What about Home Health Services? 

To ensure that the home is safe for an older adult, the physical environment is not the only issue that needs to be addressed. For example, thinking through how social networks will communicate with each other, realistic transportation options, how grocery shopping will be done, as well as housekeeping, are just a few considerations that will need to be built into an Aging in Place plan. 

The good news is that every county in Colorado has a network of resources that can help older adults to remain in their homes. Some resources are free community-based services available to all seniors regardless of income and some that you will need to pay for.  In addition, there are resources just for those who are low-to-moderate income or disabled. 

If an older adult needs a significant amount of care and there is not a network of family and friends to help out, consider hiring a professional caregiver. 

What are the different types of home care?

There are 4 types of care, including:

1. Senior Companions: Provide company for an older adult who lives alone. These senior companions, as they are sometimes called, might spend time talking with or playing cards with their older adult clients. They can also take them out to enjoy a meal at a restaurant, bring them to a local museum, or even take them to a doctor’s appointment.
2. In-home caregivers: These caregivers are considered “non-skilled,” meaning they cannot provide medical care, but are available to help older adults with activities of daily living or ADLs, that includes everything from personal care like toileting to bathing to grocery shopping and house cleaning.
3. Home health care: These skilled caregivers are provided under a physician’s order. The care is short-term and is delivered or supervised by nurses and therapists (physical, occupational, and speech). This type of care is typically, but not exclusively provided while someone is recovering from a serious illness, surgery or accident.
4. Informal Caregivers: Informal caregivers are people from all walks of life with many commonalities when it comes to the caregiver experience. For example, many face decision-making challenges stemming from financial stress and caregiver burnout are among the challenges that caregivers face.
   
   Informal caregivers watching over seniors are far from alone. In fact, it’s estimated that over 40 million adults in the U.S. serve as caregivers: made up of relatives, friends, and neighbors who provide unpaid care to older adults in need, according to Pew Research. 

What is the cost difference between in-home health care and assisted living?

It’s also worth noting, that if an older adult needs professional caregiving it might make sense to do a cost comparison of in-home care vs. care in a senior living facility. A good resource to look at to understand the costs of higher levels of care is Genworth. Genworth sells long term care insurance and also provides a Cost of Care Survey tool that can calculate the cost of long term care across the U.S. 

Knowing the cost is the first step to helping you plan for it. For example, according to Genworth, for 2019 the average cost of assisted living in Colorado was $4,095 per month, while a nursing home semi-private room was $8,197 a month. Understanding the cost of higher levels of care often helps an older person and their family get a better sense of what they can afford and therefore create a realistic plan as to how and where they want to live.