Last reviewed October 2026 by the Family Lantern team against the sources listed below. Programs and rates change; confirm details with the program or provider.
Both options can support an older adult who needs help with daily life. The right choice usually depends on how many hours of help are needed, whether the home itself still works, and how much the person values staying where they are.
What each option provides
Home care brings a caregiver to the home for scheduled hours. The person keeps their routines, neighbors, and belongings, and the family chooses the schedule. Outside those hours, someone else needs to be available or the person needs to be safe alone.
Assisted living is a residence with staff on site around the clock, meals, housekeeping, and activities. Residents generally have their own apartment or room but share common spaces. Personal care may be included or billed by level of need.
How costs compare
Home care is billed by the hour, so cost rises with the schedule. In CareScout’s 2025 survey, New York’s statewide median for a non-medical in-home caregiver was $35 an hour. A few visits a week can cost far less than a residence; round-the-clock care at home usually costs more.
Assisted living is usually a monthly fee plus charges for higher care levels. Ask local residences for their full monthly cost, including care, so you can compare it to the home care hours you would actually need. CareScout also publishes assisted living figures by state.
Questions that usually decide it
Can the person be safe alone between visits? Is the home manageable, with stairs, bathrooms, and Buffalo winters in mind? Is isolation a concern? How much time can family realistically give?
If the answers are changing, home care can be a way to start with less and add hours over time, while keeping assisted living as an option to revisit.