Different Types of Elderly Health Care

Elderly health care helps many people in their old age manage their health and stay as active as possible in their advancing years. The term covers several different types of care arrangements, meaning that there are a variety of options for the elderly and those supporting them to choose from, depending on their individual needs.

Home Care

Home care services aim to make it possible for the elderly to stay in their own homes when their health or mobility deteriorates. Rather than move to a residential or long-term care home, home care providers render care and elderly support services in the client's own home. Depending on the individual this can be either professional health care services (therapy, medication, etc), life assistance services (assistance with daily activities) or a combination of both.

Assisted Living

This form of residential care is a middle ground between home care nursing and long-term care. Although it covers a broad range of arrangements, it describes when clients in need of more in-depth support but don't need the 24 hour medical care support of a client take up residence in an apartment or house in a property managed by a care provider. Basic nursing staff may be available at all hours in some facilities, yet for the most part assisted living providers are on hand to help with day-to-day living activities. Staff regularly help with chores such as changing sheets or washing laundry. Utilities bills are included in the arrangement and in many cases, residents have the option of having meals cooked for them or for staff to bring their groceries to them.

Long term residential care/Nursing homes

For those who need constant medical attention as well as assistance with daily activities, home care nursing homes represent a viable option for maintaining the best quality of life even as health deteriorates. Constant nursing care is on hand to provide treatment for conditions whilst non-medical staff are trained extensively in helping those unable to independently carry out many activities of daily living. Often these facilities have extensive support systems in place, such as 24 hour medical monitoring and occupational, physical and rehabilitative therapies.