Home Care or Assisted Living?
Top 5 Reasons Families Choose Home Care Over Assisted Living in 2025
Caring for an aging parent or loved one involves deeply personal choices. One of the biggest decisions families face is whether to choose home care or assisted living. While both options can provide essential support, more and more families are choosing home care in 2025 for its emotional depth, personal flexibility, and ability to preserve a senior’s independence and identity.
Here are the top five reasons families across Minnesota and the U.S. are turning to in-home care as their preferred senior care solution:
1. Aging in Place Brings Comfort, Stability, and Dignity
Aging in place means remaining in one’s own home, surrounded by personal belongings, cherished memories, and comforting routines. For seniors, this stability is more than a luxury—it’s a lifeline to their sense of self.
Benefits:
Familiar surroundings reduce confusion and anxiety, especially for those with Alzheimer's or dementia. Learn more about dementia-friendly care at home.
Seniors maintain their independence and feel a sense of ownership over their lives.
Emotional connection to home enhances joy, peace, and well-being.
Example: A senior who has lived in her home for 30 years may feel emotionally displaced in an assisted living facility. With home care, she can continue hosting family dinners, enjoying her garden, and sleeping in her own bed—surrounded by the life she built.
2. Personalized, Individual-Centered Care
Unlike assisted living, which is structured around a communal schedule and designed to fit individuals into a preset system, home care is centered around the individual. Their history, personality, habits, and preferences are the foundation of the care they receive.
Benefits:
One-on-one attention leads to stronger caregiver relationships and tailored support.
Care routines are based on the senior’s lifelong rhythms—like attending their own church, enjoying walks in a favorite park, or regular lunches with friends.
Flexibility in care allows for spontaneous joy: a caregiver might drive a client to their quilting group or to watch their grandson’s baseball game.
Compare options: National Institute on Aging – Types of In-Home Care Services
3. Home Care Can Be More Cost-Effective—and More Transparent
Many families are surprised to learn that home care can be more affordable than assisted living, especially for seniors who don’t require around-the-clock care.
It’s also important to note that the true cost of assisted living is often significantly higher than the base rate advertised. Many facilities charge extra for essential services like medication management, mobility assistance, bathing, toileting, and even meal delivery. These "a la carte" fees can add up quickly and create ongoing financial stress.
By contrast, home care offers clarity and predictability. Services are billed by the hour, and families only pay for what they need—nothing more, nothing hidden.
Benefits:
No bundled fees for unused services or shared accommodations.
Transparent per-hour pricing makes budgeting easier and more accurate.
Long-term care insurance, VA benefits, and Medicaid waiver programs may apply. Check eligibility here
Cost Tip: If your loved one only needs 15–20 hours of weekly support, home care could save thousands annually over assisted living—while providing more personalized, values-based care.
4. Keeps Families Emotionally Connected and Involved
There’s something powerful about being able to care for a loved one in the same home where holidays were celebrated, milestones remembered, and family was built.
Benefits:
Loved ones can remain involved in care and participate in meaningful moments.
Families often feel more peace of mind and reduced guilt compared to institutional placement.
Visits feel natural and welcoming, not scheduled or limited by facility rules.
Real Life: At inHom, we often hear from families who say their weekly visits feel more joyful and genuine at home—filled with connection instead of concern.
5. Home Care Respects Faith, Values, and Life Choices
Home is where personal beliefs and daily rituals naturally flourish. For many, that includes expressions of faith, personal identity, and spiritual care—elements that can be diluted or restricted in institutional settings.
Benefits:
Seniors can attend their own church, continue morning devotions, or be driven to a weekly Bible study.
Caregivers can support religious traditions, prayer, and compassionate conversation.
Families can rest knowing their loved one is surrounded by people who respect and honor their way of life.
Our Mission at inHom Senior Care:
"To Love and Honor God. Serve God by serving people He places in our Care."
Bonus Insight: Assisted Living May Require Future Moves
What’s often not discussed is that assisted living communities have limits. Many people feel that Assisted Living is simpler because they just drop their loved one off and the facility will do the rest. In reality family still plays a crucial role in helping to direct care and many times having to advocate for the care that is needed. Some facilities are not licensed or staffed to handle complex medical care or the progression of serious conditions like advanced dementia where a person may need more one-on-one assistance. Many are surprised to find out that a facility will be discharging their loved one and the family once again needs to find higher lever care placement.
Why it matters:
A resident may be required to move—again—to a nursing facility or memory care unit.
The family may need to supplement the care personally or hire a Home Care company to provide one-on-one care in addition to the Care Package from the facility
This second transition can be deeply disorienting and emotionally painful.
Home care grows with your loved one’s needs, providing continuity and comfort.
Peace of Mind: With home care, you never have to face the heartbreak of uprooting your loved one twice. Instead, their care team adapts as their needs change—right in the place they call home.
Take the First Step Toward Personalized, Relationship Based Care
If you’re exploring care options for your loved one, don’t assume assisted living is the only answer. Home care offers a path forward that’s not only practical, but deeply personal—reflecting the routines, relationships, and values that matter most.
To speak with a care advisor, visit www.inhommn.com or call us directly at (952) 882-9300.
Let us help you build a care plan as unique as the person you love.
