What’s the difference between home care and community care?

We have time and again heard that old age is a second childhood, but why is it said so? This metaphor reflects upon the similar needs of children as well as senior citizens in terms of health, care, attention, physical activities, respect, etc. Having lived a life full of work, and responsibilities, old age is when people finally retire and are ready to live their own life, without the weight of any responsibilities. However, old-age demands a certain degree of care and assistance, more than any stage of life.

In today’s world, most Senior Citizens live with busy families, with children busy at work and grandchildren in studies and other related activities, they often feel lonely and receive inadequate care and attention from their families. Here, in-home care and community care come into the picture.

The term is pretty much self-explanatory, a care that senior citizens receive in the comfort of their home is termed as home care. The caregiver can be a nurse or even a certified caregiver and the frequency of his/her visit depends on the type and frequency of care required.

Living in a community of similarly-aged and like-minded people, and receiving proper care in such an environment, is termed as community care, where the community can be old-age homes, senior living homes, retirement homes, or care homes.

Key differences between in-home care and community care

• caregivers providing in-home care may or may not be experienced enough to take proper care of senior citizens, whereas in community care, every employee is interviewed before hiring, and hierarchy is also there which ensures better safety.
• It is always advised for senior citizens to be active and include some or the other form of physical activity in their daily routine, which is often possible in good community care as they are quite spacious with various amenities present however, only limited physical activity is possible in-home, and it varies depending upon the home as well.
• Doctors and nurses are always present in community care in case immediate medical attention is required, whereas in in-home care, one has to wait for the doctor’s arrival or the caregiver has to take senior citizens to the doctor.
• Caregivers in community care are trained to take proper care of senior citizens with diseases like dementia, however, in-home caregivers are seldom that much trained.
• In-home caregivers can either be someone from the family or a professional whereas caregivers in community care are always professionals.

Advantages of Community Care over In-Home Care –

• Benefits in Community care v/s in-home care – Community being the keyword, this community is often Senior living homes or care homes or retirement homes, these places have various amenities and ample exterior spaces for activities and recreation which are absent in homes.

• Safety care in community care v/s in-home care – Communities like Senior Living Homes, Care homes, etc. are safe and secure as they are gated complexes with 24×7 surveillance, and the caregivers are also under supervision always, whereas in-home caregivers are less safe as they aren’t under surveillance or supervision always.

• Physical activities in community care v/s in-home care – In-home caregivers can only help senior citizens in limited physical activities due to the restrictions of home, whereas in community-care, senior citizens can d0 a lot when it comes to physical activities, they can jog, do yoga, play sports, go walking, etc.



• Frequency of care for elder diseases in community care v/s in-home care – In-home caregivers only come once a day whereas, in community care, caregivers are present 24×7 as and when the need be, moreover, there are different levels of care, and senior citizens can opt for them according to their needs.

• Socializing outlets in community care v/s in-home care – In a community, there are similarly aged and like-minded people who become best of friends in no time, whereas in homes, senior citizens can only talk to their caregivers or their family members.

• Familiarity and ease in community care v/s in-home care – In a community, life is active, residents are familiar with caregivers, with other staff, with their neighbours, with doctors, and easily spend their day in an active manner. However, in in-home care, the senior citizens are only familiar with their caregivers and family, and they might have to go to the doctor’s, even for a minor medical inconvenience!

• Financial investment in community care v/s in-home care – In-home care does not mean just paying for caregivers, it means burdening the senior citizens with the care of the house including the repairs and the safety, especially for senior citizens living alone. In community care, everything is included in the rent or in the buying cost(in the case of senior living), and the residents can lead a hassle-free life.

From the above analysis, we can conclude that in-home care is only beneficial for senior citizens living with their families, where family members can give proper time and care to them. For senior citizens living alone, community living is a better option, they can choose Senior Living Homes, Old Age Homes, or Care Homes, depending upon their needs and frequency of care required.

Ashiana Housing is a pioneer name in Senior Living Homes in India. Our Senior living homes are architectured to suit the needs of Senior Citizens and are lined up with basic(security, garbage disposal, piped LPG, power backup, convenience stores, etc.) as well as leisure facilities(gymnasium, swimming pool, badminton court, clubhouse, table tennis, community hall, prayer hall, etc.). Our Senior Living Homes also come with Continuing Care Retirement Communities(CCRCs), where residents are provided care on different levels as they require.

• Ashiana Nirmay, Bhiwadi
• Ashiana Shubham, Chennai
• Ashiana Utsav, Lavasa-Pune

• Doctors on call
• Caregivers with Ambulance
• Pharmacy
• Tie-ups with nearby hospitals
• Regular Updates to Next of Kin
• Regular Planned Activities
• Housekeeping
• Saloon
• Laundry
• Bday and Anniversary Celebrations
• Dining Hall with Pure Veg Food

Having pondered over various differences between in-home care and community care, we can fairly conclude that community care is manifold better than in-home care, especially for people who require help more than others. There are many benefits of community care over in-home care, but one of the most significant things is living in a community of similarly aged and like-minded people, which makes sure that the residents never feel alone and are always active and socialising, after all, the human being is a social animal!