Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Options for Elderly Care


When an elderly family member falls ill and can no longer live alone, the question of what to do comes up among family and friends. It is a hard conversation to have for most families and rightfully so. It is best to consider all the options in these situations. Think about nursing homes, assisted living centers, live-in care or having your loved one move in with a family member.

Many elderly people have over a dozen pills they take daily. Is your loved one able to care for their medical upkeep needs such as pill taking? What about cooking meals and cleaning the house, getting dressed and taking showers? Consider these things when making a decision about their future care and support.

Nursing homes certainly have a bad rap but they really can provide a great deal of socialization and medical care options that no other living situation does. Unfortunately, nursing homes are also expensive. If you're loved one does not have money saved up for this emergency situation, you will likely have to assume debt to make the transition to a nursing home possible.

When considering options, think about what your loved on needs help with and what they can do for themselves. For instance, an assisted living facility provides community and medical support but with much more freedom and independence than a home. There are also lots of kinds of assisted living facilities so you can choose what level of support, care and freedom is right for your loved one.

Having a live-in medical care professional move in to your loved one's house is often an ideal option. The benefits are many. Your loved one will be allowed to stay in their own home and avoid the suffering and stress of moving.

Live-in care options also let you customize and personalize the care your loved one needs. For instance, you can create the aide's schedule around your own. Having the same assistant day after day will also help the continuity and effectiveness of the care provided. Oftentimes, the live-in aide becomes a good friend of both the patient as well as the patient's circle of family and friends.

If one of your family members or close friends has the space, energy and will to have your loved one move in to their household, this can be another great situation for elderly care. While this option still requires a move, the patient stays within the familiar when moving into a family member's or friend's home. The sense of belonging so often loft in nursing homes is maintained.

There are many, many options when it comes to choosing how to care for an ailing loved one. Regardless of whether the news is a surprise or an expected announcement, don't lose hope that there will be a solution that fits your situation and wallet. Your loved one deserves what will make them happiest and healthier, whether that is a traditional nursing home, a live-in care provider or moving in with a relative.

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