Long Term Care Facility OptionsThe selection of a long term care facility is much more than simply choosing a nursing home. Only 13% of today’s 12,000,000 Americans who require personal assistance with activities of daily living actually live in nursing homes. Staying At Home Most elders prefer to remain at home, but sometimes it isn't safe to do so. This is especially true if one has to climb stairs or struggle to take a bath or shower. Such fears may prompt an interest in moving to an assisted living long term care facility. Yet, staying at home may be as simple as making modifications such as:
Unless they are bedridden, there are always dangers associated with poor lighting throughout the home, lack of handrails on stairs or shelving being just beyond their safe reaching distance. Even after accident proofing your elder's home, take a fresh look every year to see what repairs and modifications need to be made to keep up with added changes to your elder's capabilities.
Assisted Living Facility This type of long term care facility is middle ground between independent living and nursing home care. It attracts people who require help in activities of daily living but do not need the skilled medical care provided in a nursing home. Most provide housing and personalized support services to meet the daily needs of residents. Family and friends are usually encouraged to help provide a supporting environment. One benefit to the elder is that substantial care can be provided in a somewhat residential atmosphere as opposed to a more restrictive long term care facility such as a nursing home. Many of these communities have developed into life care facilities because they provide lifetime housing with guaranteed medical and nursing care for older adults. Indeed, they have the appearance of a well-designed condominium. They are owned by both for-profit and non-profit organizations with a wide range in costs. It is not unusual for couples to buy a unit in one of these facilities when one of them shows early signs of chronic illness. The objective is to have access to numerous benefits that can support the long term aspect of what lies ahead as the couple's standard of living is forced to change. Adult Day Care This type of long term care facility is designed for those who can be dropped off and picked up each day without being permanently housed. It's important that it provide a planned program of therapeutic activities relevant to your elder's needs. When you interview a location pay attention to certain standards of care. For instance,
Nursing Home Care Nursing facilities provide both skilled nursing and custodial care. Residents receiving skilled nursing care usually are convalescing from serious illness or surgery and require continuous observation and rehabilitation. The most common type of care is custodial in nature and provides assistance with activities of daily living. These are part of the eligibility standards for federally tax qualified long term care insurance policies. Generally, if you cannot perform 2 out of the 6 activities of daily living listed below, you are eligible for insurance benefits.
Most nursing home residents never return home because most of their care is custodial in nature with no hope of recovery. Sadly, the environment of most nursing homes is depressing. Too often, people put off visiting an elder in such a place because it seems to be of no avail in helping the resident improve. If there is no alternative for your elder, you may be forced to choose a nursing home. And, you may have little selection... especially if the cost will be paid for by Medicaid. Nevertheless, if you are fortunate enough to have some degree of control in the selection process, here are some things to look for:
You're challenge is to be an advocate for your elder's needs so that they receive the best care possible.
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