Elderly care

Home care for the elderly: your complete guide before you decide

What home care for the elderly actually is, the different types, when you really need it, and how to choose the right person for the most important person in your life — step by step.

Written by Reizah May Osdaña, Head Nurse24 September 20268 min read

A Sitt nurse handing a glass of water to an older man in his living room while his daughter smiles behind them

There is a moment almost every family reaches: when you realise your father or mother can no longer do what they used to do on their own. That moment brings a mix of feelings — fear, uncertainty, and sometimes guilt that you can’t be with them all the time because of work, your own home or your children.

That feeling is completely normal, and it doesn’t mean you are falling short. It simply means the time has come to think about extra support — and that is exactly where home care for the elderly comes in.

We’ll walk through it with you step by step: what home care actually is, the different types, when you genuinely need it, and how to choose the right person for the most important person in your life.

Why has home care become the first choice for so many families?

A few years ago the options were limited: either the family carried everything on its own, or a care home. Today the picture has changed. There is now a middle option that preserves a parent’s dignity while they stay in their own home, surrounded by their belongings and memories, with a qualified person helping with their daily or health needs. This matters a great deal in our culture, because parents staying at home, close to their family, has an emotional value that no care home can replace, however well equipped it is.

Types of home care for the elderly

Not every older person needs the same kind of care. The need depends on their health and on how independent they still are.

Daily care and companionship

This is the simplest form: someone helps the older person with ordinary daily things — meals, moving around the house, accompanying them on errands, and simply sitting with them so they don’t feel alone. For many older people who are still physically independent but need company and light supervision, this kind of care is a perfect fit.

Specialised health care

This is a different matter. When there is a health condition that needs close monitoring — regular blood pressure and blood sugar checks, medication given on schedule, or caring for a wound after an operation — what you need is specialised home nursing, not just companionship.

Care for specific conditions

Some conditions need an entirely different approach from general care:

Alzheimer’s patients need particular patience and an understanding of changes in memory and behaviour — see our guide to Alzheimer’s care at home.
Parkinson’s patients need a focus on mobility and fall prevention — see our guide to Parkinson’s care at home.
Stroke patients need close monitoring in the early period, especially with difficulties in movement or speech.
Bedridden patients need intensive care to prevent bedsores and complications.
Post-surgery cases need close follow-up during recovery.

Each of these has its own details, and if you’d like to go deeper into a specific condition, we have dedicated articles explaining each one in detail.

Signs your father or mother needs extra care

Many families are late in asking for help because they only notice the changes once they become very obvious. Signs worth paying attention to early:

Forgetting more often than usual, especially simple everyday things.
Difficulty moving around, or a clear fear of falling.
Noticeable neglect of personal hygiene or meals.
Forgetting medication times, or mixing medications up.
Changes in mood, withdrawal, or ongoing sadness with no clear reason.

If you notice more than one of these signs, now is the right time to start thinking about extra support — rather than waiting until the situation gets harder.

Caregiver or nurse? The difference that matters

Many families mix the two up, and understanding the difference saves you from the wrong decision:

A caregiver focuses on daily help: companionship, help with moving and eating, and emotional support. They are qualified to handle general needs, but not medically qualified to carry out complex health procedures.
A home nurse is medically qualified, and can carry out procedures such as injections, wound care and monitoring vital signs, and handle any health emergency with specialist knowledge.

How do you choose the right caregiver for your parent?

This is one of the most important decisions you will make for your family, so don’t rush it:

Define the type of need precisely before you start looking — general daily care, or specialised health care.
Check their actual qualifications, not just the experience listed on their profile.
Ask how they have handled cases similar to your parent’s specifically.
Watch the human interaction, not just the technical competence — patience and warmth are a core part of good care.
Work with a provider that monitors quality continuously, not a one-off contract and that’s it.

The cost of home care for the elderly

The cost varies a great deal depending on the type of care (general daily care or specialised nursing), the number of hours, and the specific health condition. It is always best to ask for a clear assessment of the case before any commitment, so the price is based on an actual need rather than a general estimate.

The decision is yours

Looking after an elderly father or mother is a big responsibility, and asking for help with it is not weakness — it is awareness and genuine care for their comfort. Whether you need simple companionship or specialised health care, what matters most is that you make the decision knowing all the details, not under the pressure of the moment.

With Sitt, we help you assess your parents’ needs properly, and provide qualified caregivers and nurses matched exactly to their condition.

Last updated 24 September 2026

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Frequently asked questions

The answers families ask for most before their first booking.

How much does home care for the elderly cost per month in Saudi Arabia?

There is no single number that fits every case, because the cost depends on the type of care (simple daily companionship or specialised nursing), the number of hours needed each day, and whether the caregiver lives in or only makes scheduled visits. It is always best to ask for a free assessment of your parent’s specific case before comparing prices, so you are comparing figures based on the same need rather than general estimates.

Does medical insurance cover home care services for the elderly?

It depends on the type of policy and the insurance company itself. Some policies cover part of home nursing linked to a documented health condition, while general daily companionship is usually outside the cover. The right step is to contact your insurer directly and ask specifically about the "home care" or "home nursing" clause in your policy.

Does a home caregiver need to be licensed by the Ministry of Health?

If the service includes medical procedures such as injections, wound care or monitoring vital signs, it must be provided by a genuinely licensed nurse. If the service is general companionship and daily help with no medical intervention, a medical licence is not required — but verification and training by a trusted provider remain essential for quality and safety.

How many hours of care does an older person usually need a day?

It depends entirely on how independent they are. An older person who can move around and look after themselves but needs company and light supervision may only need a few hours a day. Cases of near-total dependence on others, such as being bedridden or in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, need near-continuous support that can extend to full round-the-clock cover.

What is the difference between a care home and home care, in cost and comfort?

A care home offers group supervision by a multi-person team in one place, and its cost usually bundles accommodation and all services into one package. Home care, by contrast, gives individual attention dedicated to your parent alone, and keeps them in their familiar surroundings among their family — a very important difference for older people who are affected emotionally by a change of place. On cost, the difference depends on how many hours of care are needed each day; it is not always a direct comparison.

Is it safe to leave my father with a caregiver we don’t know in our home?

This is the most common worry families have, and it is completely justified. Safety here depends entirely on the provider you work with: do they actually verify caregivers’ identities before sending them? Is there ongoing monitoring of the quality of care after the service starts? Is there a clear organisation that takes responsibility if something goes wrong? Working with a specialist provider that offers these guarantees makes a very big difference compared with hiring an individual directly.

Can I change the caregiver if my father isn’t comfortable with them?

Yes — and that is a natural right that should be clear from the start of the contract. The fit between an older person and their caregiver is very important to the success of the arrangement, and if you notice in the early period that your father isn’t comfortable with the person, you are entitled to ask for a change without any hassle. Make sure this clause is clearly stated in any agreement before you sign.