For those faced with the dilemmas associated with aging loved ones, there often seems to be very few alternatives available. Every year, thousands of senior citizens find themselves in need of a little extra care to be able to perform their daily routines. For a number of reasons, many of these individuals wind up in nursing homes but there are alternatives to this difficult step.
One alternative to nursing home residential care is assisted living. Assisted living is an alternative to residential nursing care, in that, the individual can maintain their independence, often remaining in their own home. It is often a stepping stone between home and full time residential care because the level of care that assisted living arrangements are able to provide is often less than adequate as the health of elderly clients decreases over time.
That much being said, quality assisted living arrangements can increase the life span of elderly patients because they maintain their independence and quality of life for a longer period of time. By remaining in their own homes and daily routines, elderly clients can remain part of their family and friends daily lives and have the ability to provide their wisdom to the younger generation.
Assisted living also reduces their exposure to community illnesses which are prevalent in nursing homes. Health problems, such as pneumonia, are common despite the best attempts at quality healthcare. This is mainly due to the fact that traditional nursing homes cannot provide enough staff to keep all of the residents functioning at a physical level that they are accustomed to. In addition, it is often very traumatic for the elderly individual to be placed into residential care. The psychological impact of being placed into a residential care facility can lead to depression, paranoia and even dementia. This psychological trauma can also lead to a decline in health for the individual.
It is thus easy to see that, while traditional nursing homes have their appropriate place, they are not always the best option. In cases where assisted living is appropriate, this may be the preferred option for your loved one. But how does one choose the appropriate care plan for your family member?
To make the decisions associated with aging family members is often a very difficult task. To decide if assisted living arrangements are a viable option, one must consider the individual case. If your aging mother is also caring for your father and both are mobile, then assisted living may very well be a sound option. A daily visit by a personal aide to assist with preparing meals or bathing may be all that is necessary. If, however, one of them is affected by dementia or requires extreme amounts of care, then the cost of 24 hour, in home assisted living might be prohibitive and residential care might be the best option available.
Other things to consider when deciding the care plan for an elderly loved one are their abilities to remember to take medications properly and to perform their daily routines effectively. If your loved one takes several medications that are on a strict schedule, such as heart medication or insulin, then a full time assisted living aide may be more appropriate than an assisted living aide who visits for two hours a few days a week. If your loved one is unable to drive but, otherwise, functions well, then a visiting aide who can drive to the grocery store or doctor appointments may be all that is needed.
The goal of assisted living is to provide care without impeding the independence of your loved ones. By carefully considering the needs of your loved ones, you can successfully determine the options that are the best option for their care.