There comes a time in life when you start considering different assisted care options for your elderly loved one. As seniors age, their physical, emotional and medical needs might start changing. If you have been taking care of them, you might be feeling out of your depth and require some tips or even professional help to address the changing needs. Some seniors might be living an independent life and only require minimal assistance and some might be in need of full-time care. As someone who is concerned about their elderly loved one, you might be looking for the option that will suit their lifestyle and needs the best.
Assisted living can help with the medical and healthcare needs of a senior, and it can also address their mental health issues. Many senior adults experience loneliness and social isolation for various reasons, which has an effect on their overall well-being. Caregivers can help them overcome these issues. Here are some of the different options of assisted living available for seniors depending on their lifestyle and needs.
1. Independent Living Residences
Independent residences for seniors are usually suited to those who can look after their own well-being without any problems. These residences are senior communities where seniors can buy an apartment or a condominium. The main advantage of independent living is being in a community with other seniors their age who might share similar interests. Some independent living communities have amenities such as restaurants, gyms, transportation and more.
2. Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living is similar to independent living, where a senior might rent or buy an independent apartment to live in. Seniors can find a community here too along with other amenities. The main difference is the availability of medical and healthcare services and personal care workers. Depending on the facility, these healthcare and nursing services might or might not be present on-site. Recreational and social activities might also be made available to the residents. Seniors need to be careful when taking part in physical fitness activities, and these facilities might provide supervised group sessions.
3. In-Home Care
If your elderly loved one would prefer to stay at home, in-home care is a great option. However complicated your elder’s needs might be, you will be able to find refined senior care options to address them all. Depending on the needs, you can find in-home caregivers who only take care of household duties or who can take care of the health and nursing needs of the seniors. You can find out more here.
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Location
When you’re searching for a place to live, the first thing you probably consider is the location. If your elderly loved one would prefer to live within close proximity of their friends and family and the familiar community, you might only want to tour the residences nearby. Some states limit how much medical assistance senior residences can provide. If you require a facility that provides a significant amount of medical care, you should consider researching the states that allow the type of assistance needed.
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Size
Size means the number of beds or rooms a facility has. This can impact the general atmosphere of the place and you should get a sense of the place to determine if it meets your loved one’s preference. The size might also influence the kind of services and amenities a facility has. Many facilities provide medical assistance, meals, co-curricular hobby activities, travel options and more while others might only provide a few or none of the services.
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Services
An assisted living facility can offer housekeeping, exercise programs, wellness services, dining services, medical support and more. Some might even provide more tailored medical assistance based on your health needs. Not all facilities have licenced medical professionals or other services, though. Based on your loved one’s lifestyle and needs, you should research the facilities before settling on one.
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Cost
The cost of a senior residence or facility can make or break your decision of transferring your loved one there. These facilities might be a luxury for many, since many seniors pay to live there out of their own pocket. If a senior qualifies for a facility through their public health insurance, their options might be limited in terms of the services they get. The ones that provide almost all the services and amenities required for a comfortable living in one place are usually the most expensive ones. Ensure that you know how much you can pay and search for a facility accordingly.
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Transition to more serviced options
You should think long-term when searching for a senior residence or facility. Some facilities provide the option of moving from assisted living to skilled nursing facilities when needed. If you think your elderly loved one will need extra medical assistance over time, you should consider a facility that caters to this. Moving to a senior facility is a big move and having to move again in a few years due to the senior’s changing needs can be difficult. Make sure you think years in advance when deciding on a care facility.
These are broad options of care available for seniors. You can also find other types of care such as temporary or day care options for seniors who only need care during a part of the day when family care might not be available. Hybrid care that combines features of different senior care facilities is also an option. Seniors looking for a long-term solution might want to go for facilities that provide all of those listed above in a transitional manner so that they can go from living in an independent facility to assisted living to full-time nursing homes.
If you’ve identified that your loved one might be in need of a senior residence or assisted living facility, choosing the right one can be a challenge. This is a big decision as it will change the way the seniors are living. The stage of life where a senior requires additional professional care is difficult, as it means changing major things in their life. Make sure you research all possible factors to ensure that your elderly loved one lives a comfortable life.
