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Often a family finds that the needs of their older loved one have become too complex for them to handle well at home. At this point, some look for help in their community.
Does this describe your situation? Do you know what help is available and what kinds of facilities exist that could help you with the care of your loved one?
September 10-16 is National Assisted Living Week. The theme this year is āSeason of Reflection.ā As your family reflects on what the future may hold for your loved one, consider all the care options. This article will explain several types of care facilities that could be good fits for your family member.
This type of facility provides a living environment that is not much different than a residentās own home. However, rooms or apartments in this type of place are usually easier to manage since they are often smaller and located on one level.
Independent living facilities are usually filled with people who are around the same age. They may offer social opportunities, transportation options, and amenities such as fitness centers, golf courses, beauty shops, and restaurants right in the building or community. Often there may be planned community events such as shopping trips, field trips or on-site activities.
This could be a good option for a loved one who needs social opportunities and community involvement but does not need care services or personal assistance.
The next level of care is assisted living. If your loved one needs a certain amount of help with daily needs but can manage some things on their own, they may thrive in an assisted living environment.
Usually, an assisted living community offers the availability of trained staff members who assist people with ADL skills (activities of daily living). This kind of assistance would include toileting, hygiene, bathing, help with meals, and help standing and moving around. There may or may not be 24-hour care but staff will be available.
Assisted Living facilities typically provide regular planned activities such as game-playing, exercise groups, hobby sessions, and parties. Most often these take place in a building with lots of other residents.
Other types of assisted living facilities include:
These facilities offer care for persons who have been diagnosed with Alzheimerās or other forms of dementia. They may be separate facilities or wings or floors inside assisted living centers or skilled nursing homes.
Trained staff work with dementia patients to provide enriching experiences and to help patients retain memory. These facilities or areas provide locked doors, camouflaged exits, and motion sensors to help monitor patients who wander. They offer a safe place for residents to be as independent as possible while getting the help they need.
This level of care offers 24-hour medical care for seniors who need specialized services. They are live-in facilities where licensed medical professionals attend to patients. Licensed nurses and nursing assistants as well as dietary service providers are on duty in shifts to give the care needed.
Skilled nursing facilities provide the most extensive care of all other care facilities. Residents get help with bathing, meals, housekeeping and laundry. This type of service helps seniors with severe illnesses or injuries and helps them get healthier.
Levels of skilled nursing range from acute to short term, intermediate or long-term. Most skilled nursing homes try to enrich their patientsā lives with activities, movies, games, and celebrations, and they often have dining rooms where residents can take their meals or attend programs.
Both palliative and hospice care are administered in skilled nursing homes or sometimes in separate facilities.
Palliative care tries to improve the quality of life of patients who have life-threatening conditions through preventing their suffering. The goal is to develop specialized plans for symptom management and treatment. Patientsā families receive emotional and spiritual support and have the option of counseling as they make difficult decisions.
Hospice care is an end-of-life service which is holistic and gives comfort to terminally ill patients. It provides symptom management, pain relief, and spiritual and emotional support for the patient and their family. There is a team of professionals including nurses, doctors, health aides, therapists, social workers, and spiritual counselors who spend time with the family and the patient. Hospice care is an option for patients considered to be in a life-threatening state.
These communities offer multiple services on one campusā independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care. Residents can āage in place,ā moving from one portion of the campus to another as needs change. This provides continuity and comfortable transitions for both residents and their families.
In this article, weāve discussed the spectrum of care facilities that may be options for your loved one.
Some of these facilities also provide respite care, which is a type of short-term break designed to give caregivers a period of rest.
With this information, you can start your own exploring and research. The choice to place a loved one in a care facility is one of the most difficult decisions families have to make. Take your time, ask questions, tour facilities, and investigate thoroughly as you prepare for the next phase of care for your loved one.
