Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Care Options For The Elderly

By Agatha Lebouef


While making a decision about eldercare is never easy, these days there are many different types and levels of care to consider. Whether you are searching for just a little bit of extra help or need full-time, around-the-clock care, there is an ideal choice for each and every situation. Here are some examples of eldercare options and what they include.

A convalescent home or nursing home is a facility that offers 24-hour care for those who are suffering from an illness that requires constant monitoring and attention or for those who cannot care for their basic daily needs at all and require assistance with a wide variety of tasks. Sometimes, a nursing home is only needed for a week or a few weeks, such as if a person has fallen and broken a bone and needs temporary help and rehabilitation. This might also be the case if a person has suffered a stroke and needs constant care and rehabilitative care.

There are many seniors who don't need nursing care, but do need help with lots of daily tasks. It might be that they lack the energy to cook and clean anymore or are simply tired of dealing with these types of chores. They also might need help with grooming and perhaps with dressing and bathing. For this group of people, an assisted living home might be an excellent idea. These types of facilities don't provide nursing or medical care beyond helping with medication, but they do include housekeeping, laundry and meal service as well as assistance with daily personal tasks. They are also highly social facilities, providing many activities and excursions, which can be a big advantage to someone who might be feeling a bit lonely and isolated at home.

However, sometimes a person would needs help with personal care and daily household tasks, but still wants to remain in the comfort of their own home. So rather than opt for an assisted living facility, you can hire in-home care for this person. That way they are sure to have a clean house and good food, as well as having their personal needs met. This is also an option for those who have a parent or parents living with them and need a little help. Neither in-home help nor assisted living are payable with Medicaid, as there is very little actual medical care involved.

A third option and one that sort of combines the socializing of assisted living with the comfort of in-home care is a board & care option. This usually includes just five or six people in all with around the clock assistance for basic needs, as well as housekeeping, laundry and meal preparation. It can be homier than assisted living, which is a nice option for some people, but with a few other residents, there is more opportunity for social interaction.

It takes time to find the right facility for you or your loved one, and it can be helpful to use a service such as CarePlacement.com which takes into account all of your needs and your budget and looks for the best possible arrangement. Be sure to visit each facility yourself to determine if it is a place where you or your loved one will truly be comfortable.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment