There often comes a time when adult children or other designated caregivers must consider alternative senior living options for their aging family member.
This is often a stressful time for the whole family. It doesn’t need to be so difficult. Take some timely tips from an experienced RN for choosing the very best senior living environment for your beloved family member. There are many outstanding senior care housing options these days, and each one has much to offer seniors and their concerned family members.
It is wise to investigate several of these elderly housing selections to find the best fit for each valued senior citizen.
What is Senior Housing?
It can be quite confusing to determine the right senior housing choice for your senior aged family member. This is partly due to the sheer number of various housing varieties available to seniors and their caregiver family members. It helps to learn the different senior living care lingo and common terms used to describe these elder housing opportunities. Some of the different living environments available to the senior population includes the following:
- Senior Home Care Options
- Assisted Living Options
- Various Senior Care Facilities
- Independent Senior Living Communities
- Elder Apartment Choices
- Specialized Memory Care for Seniors with Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease
- Residential Group or Care Homes
- Nursing Homes with 24/7 Nursing Care Available
- Senior Citizen Retirement Communities
- Respite Senior Care or Adult Day Care Services
Determining if Senior Home Care is Best
Most seniors would prefer to stay in their own comfortable homes for as long as possible. Many seniors are able to remain at home, and others might need some care adjustments to keep them safe and healthy.
When determining if senior home care is the best solution for your relative, make sure to get a professional health opinion first. Your parent or other relative’s family physician is a good place to start. Having accurate healthcare evaluation results can help everyone involved to make knowledgeable living arrangement plans with the appropriate level of care that your senior relative will need.
There is a wide range of senior home care options for elderly individuals. Some might just need a companion to stay during certain hours like overnight, and others might require assistance with medications, eating, dressing, bathing and other common activities of daily living. There are many nursing care programs for seniors still living at home in just about any community. Your family member might just need someone to run errands, perform light housekeeping tasks or provide meal preparation services. This home care choice might only be needed for a short period of time following a serious healthcare event like a stroke, recent surgery or continued rehabilitation needs after an accident that caused injuries. Home nursing companies often are used in these types of situations. Always research any being considered healthcare company before making your final care decision.
Benefits of Senior Retirement Communities
Older individuals who are still relatively healthy and independent might enjoy living in one of many types of senior retirement communities. This is often a good living choice for seniors that like socializing with people that are close to their own ages. These retirement communities vary significantly in terms of what each can offer. Residents of these communities might live in apartments, townhouses, shared or single family houses and other options. These communities offer peer interaction, beautiful facilities with a comfortable home-like atmosphere and lovely grounds with possible walking paths that are maintained by professional landscapers.
Most of these communities boast added amenities like tennis courts, heated pools, meal options, transportation services, maintenance staff and security systems. Many also provide elective activities, some healthcare and housecleaning assistance, access to private or onsite laundry services, large-screen televisions and computer access in gorgeous community rooms. Another important benefit of most of these convenient community settings is the close proximity to community attractions like shopping centers, cultural entertainment options, nature parks, fine dining venues and many others.
Pros and Cons of Senior Citizen Apartments
Another fantastic living arrangement for elders includes senior citizen apartment buildings or centers. These apartments might offer luxury accommodations, low income assistance and a variety of apartment floor layouts. These apartment complexes are typically also situated close to town attractions like eating establishments, museums, transportation services and more. There is usually onsite maintenance staff available round-the-clock and advanced security features like security guards, video or camera surveillance, motion detected alarms and extra safety lights. Some possible cons might be related to cost, space limits, decor preferences and others. Many families find more pros than cons about this senior living choice.
What to Look for in Assisted Living Options
An assisted living facility or community might work well for those elders that need some assistance but are still functioning well enough to do most ADL’s on their own. This option in senior living choices allows the individual to get help when needed. Someone living in this setting might need help with bathing or ambulation but otherwise are relatively independent. Look for clean and welcoming environments, upbeat and happy atmosphere, warm and skilled employees and appropriate safety and security provisions.
When to Consider Senior Living Homes
Many families are loathe to consider nursing homes for their family member. These facilities have changed for the better over the last few decades.
Most of these facilities provide exemplary nursing care, and most have comfortable living spaces with private or shared bedroom arrangements. If your loved one is declining due to poor health and other reasons, this might signify that senior living homes should be considered.
There are some outstanding nursing home facilities that provide healthy meals, professional nursing care, rehabilitation services, transportation services, housekeeping and so much more. If your senior family member has begun to make improper safety judgement decisions, a senior living home might be necessary to keep your loved one safe and able to function at their highest level. Tour any facility being considered, and plan to drop in during mealtimes or in the evening to see how the residents and staff interact with each other. A nursing home environment can be an ideal living solution for those that need round-the-clock supervision and care.
How to Tell if Memory Care is Required
Families that are caring for someone who is showing a decline in mental health often become overwhelmed. It can be especially difficult for a spouse or child to watch this often slow descent. There are a number of other reasons why someone would begin to have difficulty with their memory. Urine and kidney infections often present with these symptoms, and other health issues like strokes, seizures or diseases like diabetes could also be the cause of memory difficulties. Anyone suffering from memory-related problems should be seen immediately by a physician.
If the person is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, it might be time to check into memory care facilities. These homes are usually run by a nursing home company, and most train their employees in the advanced care necessary to properly take care of these individuals. These facilities should have safety provisions in place to keep the residents safe at all times. The residents that live in these facilities should be treated with the utmost care and respect that everyone deserves. Look for memory boosting strategies like memory boxes, a structured environment and appropriate activities to aid in memory retention like current events, fun diversions, music therapy and special remembrance sessions.
Where to Turn When Caregivers Need a Break
Scores of family members care for their ailing senior family members. This can be hard and extremely demanding over time. Sometimes, it is best to take a break to recharge your batteries. Family members in this situation often do not know where to turn for a much needed break from caregiver duties. Fortunately, there are some terrific respite care services in most communities for just this sort of scenario. These services are often offered on weekends, overnight or for a longer stretch of time.
This senior service is a welcome relief for the caregivers that use it. With this care option available, it is possible for caregivers to go on a family vacation, attend a late night holiday party or just to give the caregivers a rest from the usual duties of caring for another.
How Adult Day Care or Other Senior Socialization Group Can Help
Most communities have some sort of adult day care or other socialization classes or groups that seniors can participate in. This is a nice option for working caregivers. Your loved one can enjoy spending time with friends and doing pleasant activities like fun games, exercise classes, music entertainment and more. Find out what programs are in your local area by contacting your town’s senior citizen group or use one of the helpful senior living resources. Search for these services online, in phone directories or by word-of-mouth.
Take Advantage of Available Senior Living Resources
When looking for the ideal senior living options in your area, don’t forget to use your city’s listed senior living resources that should have an up-to-date listing of all available elderly housing options. Contact your region’s senior citizen agency, local senior advocacy group or legal ombudsman program.
How to Bring Up the Need for Possible Elder Care & Living Changes
Many family caregivers often struggle with their emotions trying to determine how to positively bring up the need for possible changes to their family member’s elder care and/or living changes.
Ideally, this should be a non-threatening family meeting with the purpose of discussing your family member’s current healthcare and living environment needs and the person’s expected future needs as well.
There are some helpful resources that can also give sound advice on this topic, and some senior advocacy groups will aid in this type of meeting. If planning to move your family member into one of the community’s senior living homes, the patient/family coordinator will set up a formal meeting that can include family members and others involved in this process. This can be a practical way to get through what needs to be said without falling apart emotionally. Typically, a social worker will guide the discussion to ensure a successful meeting and resolution.
The Importance of Preparing for Tours of Senior Care Facilities
Before deciding on which living and/or care choice is the ideal selection for your cherished family member, there are some methods to ensure that your decision is the right one. Always insist on a tour of any facility being considered. It also helps to pop in without warning to better get an idea of what can be expected.
As with any healthcare provider choice, getting recommendations from neighbors, coworkers, family members and other healthcare providers is the best way to determine the appropriate course of action. Reputable administrators from senior care facilities will be glad to show off their accredited senior care services and attractive accommodations.
Why Involving Your Elder Family Member in His/Her Future Living & Care Needs is Recommended
Most healthcare experts recommend involving your elder family member in his/her current and future living and care needs discussions or family meetings. However, if your cared for family member can’t participate due to mental or other type of health condition, it is perhaps better to limit some information. Every family will have different situations and should base their conversations accordingly.
Finding out which of the many splendid senior living options might be the better choice for your unique and loving family member can be a positive process. It can be comforting to know that your loved one will get the exact expert care that they need in the right type of elderly housing environment. Browse https://elderlyliving.com for further details.
