As our parents age, we all worry about what’s going to happen when they reach a point where they can’t do certain things for themselves. Deciding long term care options for elderly may be one of the most difficult decisions you’ll have to make. While there’s not a lot you can do to make this process easier, having enough information is a good starting point. At least it will make the process physically smoother. The first thing you need to figure out is how many types of long term care options for elderly are there. That way, you can begin weighing your options to see which one works best for your situation. It will also give you the opportunity to discuss with your parent and see what they prefer. Here are some of the most common care options you may want to consider.
Move Your Elderly Parent into Your Home
One of the first long term care options for elderly is to move your parent into your home. While this may not be ideal for everyone, moving your parents into your home is a great option if you feel like you can provide personal, hands-on care. However, please note that you can only do this if you have enough time to cater to their needs and if your lifestyle permits. This is a huge decision, and it will have a lot of impact on your personal life and home. You will need to make a lot of changes to accommodate your parent. Also, you must keep in mind that once that happens, the responsibility of taking care of your parent will fall on you totally.
One of the first things you will want to think about if whether your home is safe for your parent. If not, you will need to make some changes to ensure it’s elderly-friendly. There are lots of things that need to be adjusted. For instance, you should ensure the floors have enough grip and that the things they need on a daily basis will be within reach. You also need to make rooms like the bathroom safer by installing grab bars and making sure the toilet and show are safe to use. There are companies that specialize in making homes safe for the elderly. They can send someone to assess your home and determine what needs to be done. That way, you can pay for everything at once.
When it comes to moving your parent into your home, you need to think about how this decision will affect your children, marriage, job, and other important responsibilities. You must also be aware that burnout is common when you become a primary caregiver. You will need to set some boundaries and take some time to care for yourself as well. One of the most effective ways to relieve caregiver stress is to seek respite care. This will help you regularly relieve the stress of taking care of your parent.
Independent Living
Independent living is known by many names. For instance, independent living facilities are usually referred to as retirement communities. It’s one of the least restrictive types of long term care options for elderly. A good way to think of it is like a just-in-case scenario. Independent living facilities are set up as specialized neighborhoods. This means there will be full-functional homes with free meals, laundry services, and community activities. Also, if anything goes wrong healthwise, there will be some medical facilities within the grounds.
The only disadvantage of independent living is that it’s not cheap. There’s a lot of luxury that comes with these facilities, and you will part with a significant amount of money. In most cases, you actually need to buy a house for your parent. However, there are some facilities that you can just rent. On top of that, you also have to pay a monthly fee. In any case, any facility you will choose is going to be costly. Also, these will not be regulated. That means the employees in independent living facilities will get away with a lot.
Senior living communities are perfect for active seniors who need to downsize. Many of these facilities are linked to nursing care homes and assisted living facilities. For those residents who need a little more help, care services can be arranged. These communities offer a built-in social life with other residents of the same age. There’s also a wide array of activities, including exercise, lectures, games, trips, and concerts. There are great when it comes to keeping residents stimulated and engaged.
In-Home Care
The majority of elderly people prefer in-home care among long term care options for elderly. Not a lot of people are interested in moving out of their homes and relocating elsewhere. It might also be that you don’t really want your parent to be in a nursing home or assisted living facility. If that’s the case, you should definitely check out in-home care. When you opt for in-home care among long term care options for elderly, your parent will be assisted with personal care services, care management services, companionship services, and any other tasks they need help with. This means they won’t have to struggle with things like transportation, meal prep, medication, housework, bills, exercise, and personal hygiene, among other things. The in-home caregiver can take your parent to a doctors appointment and to the physical therapist.
Benefits of In-Home Care
In-home care has a lot of benefits. It’s obviously most comfortable than any other option since your parent won’t have to move out of their home. Having your parent receive care in the comfort of their home is way better than moving them out and placing them with strangers and in an unfamiliar environment. If your parent is not feeling well, in-home care can encourage faster recovery. There’s a lot of research indicating that patients can recover from illnesses faster in their own homes. Also, there’s a lower chance that they will develop infections.
In-home care offers one-on-one attention. Your parent’s caregiver will have one job, and that’s to attend to the needs of your parent. As such, any need they have will be met a lot quicker than in a group home or independent living facility. Another benefit of in-home care is that it’s cheaper than other options. In most instances, residential nursing facilities tend to be very expensive. You can cover your in-home care costs. Elderly people are often wary of new environments and losing their independence. As such, they tend to be reluctant to leave their homes. By having them stay in their home, they can still choose their own schedule, which helps them retain control over their lives.
When it comes to in-home care, there’s no need to worry about your parent getting injured as they are going about their day-to-day activities. You can rest assured that they are safe in the comfort of their own home. They won’t be alone. And this means they won’t attempt something that can result in injury. For instance, if they need to access something that’s not within their reach, they can simply ask the caregiver to help. The caregiver also steps in as a companion. This helps to ensure your parent isn’t feeling lonely or socially isolated. Companionship can go a long way when it comes to reducing the risk of heart disease. It can also help to calm dementia patients.
When you choose in-home care from the list of long term care options for elderly, your parent’s life will not be significantly altered. For instance, if they have a pet, they can still keep it. Did you know that pet companionship has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease? It’s also quite calming to individuals with dementia. In-home care is a great way to allow your parents to age gracefully in the comfort of their own homes. All this happens without disrupting their daily routine. They can still sleep in their own bed, and they get all the help they need around the house.
If you opt for in-home care among long term care options for elderly, you will avoid lots of costs. For instance, you won’t need to pay movers. Distance movers can be quite costly if you want your parents to get into an independent living facility.
Assisted Living Communities
Assisted living facilities are somewhat similar to retirement communities. They also have some attributes of full-time in-home care. This would be the perfect option if your parent is basically independent but needs help with something. For instance, if they need help remembering to take their medication or with using the restroom. The only problem is that while your parent will never lack when it comes to day-to-day care, they won’t be able to get medical help 24/7. Therefore, if you feel like your parent needs medical help all the time, you may need to consider other options. If not, you can put assisted living on your shortlist. When you move your parent into a senior housing facility, you basically downsize significantly. There won’t be a need to hire a lawn care service or garage floor installer.
Active Adult Communities
Did you know there are communities where there’s a minimum age for residents who can live there? In most instances, residents need to be at least 55 years of age. However, it varies with communities. These neighborhoods usually have apartments, townhouses, houses, mobile homes, or condos. This is one of the best long term care options for elderly if your parent is capable of living on their own. In these communities, each resident is fully independent, and they will be managing their own home. They also take care of themselves.
Nursing Homes
Is your parent struggling with their health? If so, you need to look into long term care options for elderly that cover medical needs. Nursing facilities are ideal for this. They are actually designed for those who need regular medical assistance. In some instances, they can be used for temporary care. For example, if your parent has undergone surgery and they are recovering, they can stay in a nursing home. A nursing home can also be an option if your parent’s regular caregiver is otherwise occupied.
Nursing homes are often used to treat people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and similar conditions. Such individuals need constant attention and help, and it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave them alone at home. Having them in a nursing home ensures that medical attention is a stone’s throw away. If anything happens and they need medical attention, it won’t be long before they can receive the care they need.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Looking for long term care options for elderly that cover everything? Well, you should definitely consider continuing care retirement communities. These offer all the same advantages as nursing homes, in-home care, and independent living facilities. This is because the aim was to have them stand in life all-in-one communities. If your parent has minimal difficulties, they will be housed in one part of the area. On the other hand, if they develop more extensive needs, they will be moved to an area where they can receive the care they want.
The most significant advantage of this long term care option is mobility. You won’t need to change your parent’s living conditions totally. Instead, they can move to different areas within the facility depending on what they need at the moment. This is better than finding a new home entirely.
Considering the number of long term care options for elderly, sometimes you may need to speak to someone who knows everything about elderly care. There are lots of elderly care professionals you can find around your area. Try to ask them for advice and find out what option they think would be best for your parent. Care managers will take the time to have a conversation with you about your parent’s needs and situation. They will then create a personalized care plan that helps you identify the needs of your parent.
If you need help convincing your parent that the decision you are making is the best, you can seek out a family counseling service. They will probably be better able to talk to your parent in a way they’ll understand. Also, if there are any legal matters that need addressing regarding long term care options for elderly, you should find mediation lawyers or a family law attorney. They should help straighten everything out for you.
As our parents age, we all worry about what’s going to happen when they reach a point where they can’t do certain things for themselves. Deciding long term care options for elderly may be one of the most difficult decisions you’ll have to make. While there’s not a lot you can do to make this process easier, having enough information is a good starting point. At least it will make the process physically smoother. The first thing you need to figure out is how many types of long term care options for elderly are there. That way, you can begin weighing your options to see which one works best for your situation. It will also give you the opportunity to discuss with your parent and see what they prefer. Here are some of the most common care options you may want to consider.
Move Your Elderly Parent into Your Home
One of the first long term care options for elderly is to move your parent into your home. While this may not be ideal for everyone, moving your parents into your home is a great option if you feel like you can provide personal, hands-on care. However, please note that you can only do this if you have enough time to cater to their needs and if your lifestyle permits. This is a huge decision, and it will have a lot of impact on your personal life and home. You will need to make a lot of changes to accommodate your parent. Also, you must keep in mind that once that happens, the responsibility of taking care of your parent will fall on you totally.
One of the first things you will want to think about if whether your home is safe for your parent. If not, you will need to make some changes to ensure it’s elderly-friendly. There are lots of things that need to be adjusted. For instance, you should ensure the floors have enough grip and that the things they need on a daily basis will be within reach. You also need to make rooms like the bathroom safer by installing grab bars and making sure the toilet and show are safe to use. There are companies that specialize in making homes safe for the elderly. They can send someone to assess your home and determine what needs to be done. That way, you can pay for everything at once.
When it comes to moving your parent into your home, you need to think about how this decision will affect your children, marriage, job, and other important responsibilities. You must also be aware that burnout is common when you become a primary caregiver. You will need to set some boundaries and take some time to care for yourself as well. One of the most effective ways to relieve caregiver stress is to seek respite care. This will help you regularly relieve the stress of taking care of your parent.
Independent Living
Independent living is known by many names. For instance, independent living facilities are usually referred to as retirement communities. It’s one of the least restrictive types of long term care options for elderly. A good way to think of it is like a just-in-case scenario. Independent living facilities are set up as specialized neighborhoods. This means there will be full-functional homes with free meals, laundry services, and community activities. Also, if anything goes wrong healthwise, there will be some medical facilities within the grounds.
The only disadvantage of independent living is that it’s not cheap. There’s a lot of luxury that comes with these facilities, and you will part with a significant amount of money. In most cases, you actually need to buy a house for your parent. However, there are some facilities that you can just rent. On top of that, you also have to pay a monthly fee. In any case, any facility you will choose is going to be costly. Also, these will not be regulated. That means the employees in independent living facilities will get away with a lot.
Senior living communities are perfect for active seniors who need to downsize. Many of these facilities are linked to nursing care homes and assisted living facilities. For those residents who need a little more help, care services can be arranged. These communities offer a built-in social life with other residents of the same age. There’s also a wide array of activities, including exercise, lectures, games, trips, and concerts. There are great when it comes to keeping residents stimulated and engaged.
In-Home Care
The majority of elderly people prefer in-home care among long term care options for elderly. Not a lot of people are interested in moving out of their homes and relocating elsewhere. It might also be that you don’t really want your parent to be in a nursing home or assisted living facility. If that’s the case, you should definitely check out in-home care. When you opt for in-home care among long term care options for elderly, your parent will be assisted with personal care services, care management services, companionship services, and any other tasks they need help with. This means they won’t have to struggle with things like transportation, meal prep, medication, housework, bills, exercise, and personal hygiene, among other things. The in-home caregiver can take your parent to a doctors appointment and to the physical therapist.
Benefits of In-Home Care
In-home care has a lot of benefits. It’s obviously most comfortable than any other option since your parent won’t have to move out of their home. Having your parent receive care in the comfort of their home is way better than moving them out and placing them with strangers and in an unfamiliar environment. If your parent is not feeling well, in-home care can encourage faster recovery. There’s a lot of research indicating that patients can recover from illnesses faster in their own homes. Also, there’s a lower chance that they will develop infections.
In-home care offers one-on-one attention. Your parent’s caregiver will have one job, and that’s to attend to the needs of your parent. As such, any need they have will be met a lot quicker than in a group home or independent living facility. Another benefit of in-home care is that it’s cheaper than other options. In most instances, residential nursing facilities tend to be very expensive. You can cover your in-home care costs. Elderly people are often wary of new environments and losing their independence. As such, they tend to be reluctant to leave their homes. By having them stay in their home, they can still choose their own schedule, which helps them retain control over their lives.
When it comes to in-home care, there’s no need to worry about your parent getting injured as they are going about their day-to-day activities. You can rest assured that they are safe in the comfort of their own home. They won’t be alone. And this means they won’t attempt something that can result in injury. For instance, if they need to access something that’s not within their reach, they can simply ask the caregiver to help. The caregiver also steps in as a companion. This helps to ensure your parent isn’t feeling lonely or socially isolated. Companionship can go a long way when it comes to reducing the risk of heart disease. It can also help to calm dementia patients.
When you choose in-home care from the list of long term care options for elderly, your parent’s life will not be significantly altered. For instance, if they have a pet, they can still keep it. Did you know that pet companionship has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease? It’s also quite calming to individuals with dementia. In-home care is a great way to allow your parents to age gracefully in the comfort of their own homes. All this happens without disrupting their daily routine. They can still sleep in their own bed, and they get all the help they need around the house.
If you opt for in-home care among long term care options for elderly, you will avoid lots of costs. For instance, you won’t need to pay movers. Distance movers can be quite costly if you want your parents to get into an independent living facility.
Assisted Living Communities
Assisted living facilities are somewhat similar to retirement communities. They also have some attributes of full-time in-home care. This would be the perfect option if your parent is basically independent but needs help with something. For instance, if they need help remembering to take their medication or with using the restroom. The only problem is that while your parent will never lack when it comes to day-to-day care, they won’t be able to get medical help 24/7. Therefore, if you feel like your parent needs medical help all the time, you may need to consider other options. If not, you can put assisted living on your shortlist. When you move your parent into a senior housing facility, you basically downsize significantly. There won’t be a need to hire a lawn care service or garage floor installer.
Active Adult Communities
Did you know there are communities where there’s a minimum age for residents who can live there? In most instances, residents need to be at least 55 years of age. However, it varies with communities. These neighborhoods usually have apartments, townhouses, houses, mobile homes, or condos. This is one of the best long term care options for elderly if your parent is capable of living on their own. In these communities, each resident is fully independent, and they will be managing their own home. They also take care of themselves.
Nursing Homes
Is your parent struggling with their health? If so, you need to look into long term care options for elderly that cover medical needs. Nursing facilities are ideal for this. They are actually designed for those who need regular medical assistance. In some instances, they can be used for temporary care. For example, if your parent has undergone surgery and they are recovering, they can stay in a nursing home. A nursing home can also be an option if your parent’s regular caregiver is otherwise occupied.
Nursing homes are often used to treat people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and similar conditions. Such individuals need constant attention and help, and it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave them alone at home. Having them in a nursing home ensures that medical attention is a stone’s throw away. If anything happens and they need medical attention, it won’t be long before they can receive the care they need.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Looking for long term care options for elderly that cover everything? Well, you should definitely consider continuing care retirement communities. These offer all the same advantages as nursing homes, in-home care, and independent living facilities. This is because the aim was to have them stand in life all-in-one communities. If your parent has minimal difficulties, they will be housed in one part of the area. On the other hand, if they develop more extensive needs, they will be moved to an area where they can receive the care they want.
The most significant advantage of this long term care option is mobility. You won’t need to change your parent’s living conditions totally. Instead, they can move to different areas within the facility depending on what they need at the moment. This is better than finding a new home entirely.
Considering the number of long term care options for elderly, sometimes you may need to speak to someone who knows everything about elderly care. There are lots of elderly care professionals you can find around your area. Try to ask them for advice and find out what option they think would be best for your parent. Care managers will take the time to have a conversation with you about your parent’s needs and situation. They will then create a personalized care plan that helps you identify the needs of your parent.
If you need help convincing your parent that the decision you are making is the best, you can seek out a family counseling service. They will probably be better able to talk to your parent in a way they’ll understand. Also, if there are any legal matters that need addressing regarding long term care options for elderly, you should find mediation lawyers or a family law attorney. They should help straighten everything out for you.
