How to Find Quality Senior Care When the Time is Right

Many adult children and other relatives do it free of charge (and often at a considerable burden to themselves in terms of lost work, physical and emotional stress, and out-of-pocket expenses). In some families, family members will split the duties or chip in to help defray the caregiver’s costs. When people get older—or very old—they often face physical or mental difficulties that interfere with their ability to perform their normal activities, what experts and insurers call activities of daily living. Eldercare is an umbrella term for a wide array of services intended to help older people live as comfortably and independently as possible. Examples range from basic transportation, cooking, or cleaning to complex medical care.

Residential respite caretakes place in group homes, nursing homes, and other specialized facilities that provide both planned and emergency services. Visiting Angels offers live-in and 24-hour home care, which can ensure a professional caregiver is available to address your loved one’s needs and provide companion care – day and night. Caregivers can also help with personal care, including grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting, meal preparation, and light housekeeping. Consult with the senior care facility to learn about the support services they offer to families. Many facilities provide educational programs, counseling, and family engagement opportunities to help ease the transition process.

Senior Care is A Family Issue

If your loved one’s physical and cognitive functions diminish and their daily needs increase, they may need 24/7 in-home care. While you may consider an assisted living facility or nursing home, you have another option. If a senior is no longer capable of performing ADLs without assistance, or cannot independently complete several IADLs, it is a strong indication that it may be time for some type of senior care. Based on the senior’s level of functioning, this could mean hiring an in-home personal care aide, or, in more extreme cases, it may indicate a need for residential care. In fact, this measurement of care need is frequently utilized to determine if a senior meets the functional criterion for financial long-term care assistance programs, such as Medicaid. Work closely with the care staff to ensure a smooth transition of care services.

Take note of professional reviews and ratings from reputable organizations specializing in senior care evaluations. These assessments can objectively assess the facility’s standards and quality of care. Learn about the qualifications, training, and experience of the staff members.

Paying for Home Care

Balancing practical considerations with emotional ones can make the process overwhelming. Read more about Home care here. You may be navigating through a range of emotions, from concern and guilt to the desire to provide the best care possible.

However, the biggest disadvantage to live-in care is limited nighttime assistance. Live-in caregivers are entitled to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, leaving your parent without direct support during the night. Most seniors want to continue living in their homes for as long as possible.

We’ll present the problems seniors are facing through three truly unbelievable stats. We are only beginning to grasp the full impact that COVID has had on our lives over the past three years. Determine if they require assistance with medication reminders, administration, or monitoring for any chronic conditions. You or your loved one need additional care, but you don’t know how to find it.

While it’s okay to do some research ahead of time, your loved one should be involved in a decision like this since it affects them directly. Sometimes, a broken hip or a bad fall could prompt a visit to the ER or hospital.

Although “live-in” and “24-hour care” may sound the same, each has different terms and arrangements. Understanding the differences will help you determine the best choice for your senior’s specific needs and requirements. There are several challenges that an aging population presents for individuals involved with their care, as well as for policymakers. An aging population is accompanied by an increasing need for healthcare, long-term care and social services, even as some in Congress are calling for cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Our current approach of casting aside older adults isn’t sustainable for them, their caregivers or society. We must shift our cultural view of aging to ensure that our senior citizens are welcomed and integrated into the fabric of community life, not shut away, out of sight.

Choosing to keep your elderly loved one at home rather than a nursing home or assisted living facility is a big decision. But with the assistance of Active Senior Care, you can rely on our team of experienced and professional caregivers to provide the best possible care, no matter what your loved one’s individual needs may be. Community services vary greatly in value and therefore aren’t always easy to compare without more information. Additionally, adult day centers often require fees on a sliding scale since they’re structured like a healthcare provider, although some may accept Medicare or Medicaid coverage. Many older adults prefer to age in place, or, stated differently, prefer to grow old in their own home. In fact, a recent survey by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) reveals that nearly 80% of persons age 50 years and older wish to continue living in their own home as they age. However, it is vital that a senior’s desire to remain independent be balanced with his or her safety and health needs.