It is essential to seek guidance from senior care experts, who can offer valuable insights and recommendations based on your loved one’s needs. They can also help you understand the options and further clarify the long-term care journey.
Known also as skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes offer medical attention and supervision around the clock.
Home Care
Home care involves someone entering a senior’s home to help with everyday activities. This can be provided by family members or through a professional home health care agency. This type of home care is typically nonmedical, although some agencies also offer medical home health care.
This is a good option for seniors who want to age in a place without family nearby that can help with caregiver duties. It can also be a cheaper alternative to nursing home care.
Sometimes, home care can be covered by Medicare or a private insurance plan, such as a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit. This plan offers zero co-pays or deductibles for office visits and prescriptions, dental and hearing coverage, and an individualized care management program.
There are also a variety of community-based care services that can provide support to seniors and their caregivers. These can include meal delivery, transportation services, and respite care.
Assisted Living
Many seniors can get the care they need at home if family members can take on caregiving responsibilities. However, when it comes to managing chronic health conditions or recovering from surgery, home care might not be enough. A nurse or other qualified medical professional may be needed for more comprehensive care.
If your aging parent has trouble getting around or needs help with daily living activities, an assisted living community could be one of the right Senior Care Options. These communities provide housing, support services, meals, and social activities.
Many elders who live in assisted living communities have frequent visits from staff members who check on them to ensure they are safe and taking their medications as prescribed. This helps to prevent falls, which can lead to severe head or hip injuries and manages medications for those who have difficulty remembering to take them.
Residential Communities
Consider a residential community if you want to maintain your home but need assistance with daily living activities or minimal medical care. These are often age-restricted neighborhoods that include a variety of amenities, and some offer specific programs such as those for LGBT seniors. They require significant time and money for home modification and hourly care costs, but they can be more cost-effective than nursing homes.
Assisted living facilities, also called managed residential communities (MRC), provide independent apartments with a range of nonmedical services, the National Institute on Aging notes. These are smaller residences with around 20 or fewer residents.
Memory care facilities are stand-alone or part of an assisted living facility and provide specialized features for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. These usually have higher staff-to-resident ratios and are more clinical than a traditional residential community.
Hospice & Palliative Care
Hospice care can offer consolation and support if you or someone you know is suffering from a terminal disease. It focuses on quality of life and provides emotional and spiritual support for patients. This type of care includes home visits from doctors and nurses specializing in palliative medicine and a team of counselors and therapists to help patients and families cope with their situation.
To qualify for hospice, a doctor must evaluate your condition and estimate you have less than six months to live. Medicare, private insurance, and other health plans usually cover this treatment.
Hospice also helps caregivers cope with the stress and strain of caregiving. They can connect you with local resources and family members who can help with day-to-day tasks or even offer respite care so the primary caregiver can take a break. They can also help you write advance directives and a living will or Five Wishes document to help with end-of-life planning.
