As our loved ones grow older, it is an increasing concern of how to balance their independence with their safety. This concern is often increased with the loss of a spouse, and it may become very difficult to keep our loved ones in their own home while still maintaining their safety. There are many choices out there, but the most common are assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes. Most people don’t know the differences, but they are quite different in both cost and the care they provide.
In determining which type of facility is best suited for your loved one, you must first determine the type of care they need. Here it is important to distinguish between personal care and medical care. An assisted living facility is more geared towards providing personal care, such as meal preparation, help with bathing and dressing, and housekeeping. They are also designed to encourage social interaction through activities and communal meals to help prevent isolation, which is common in the elderly. The settings of most assisted living facilities resemble what people may consider a nice apartment complex. This is strikingly different than most nursing homes, which serve a different purpose.
If your loved one is more in need of medical care, then a nursing home may be the appropriate setting for them. Nobody would choose a nursing home first; because the environment is much like being a hospital and because of the around the clock medical care, the cost may be close to double that of an assisted living facility. An assisted living facility is not licensed to provide medical care, so even if they have a nurse on staff, they will have a very hands-off approach. Nursing homes are licensed with Medicare and Medicaid so they have to go through a rigorous set of regulations and thus the patients are guaranteed a certain level of care. Because of this, to be admitted you have to meet a certain level of care need. This must be determined by your physician.
We all want to keep our loved ones safe, while allowing them to maintain as much independence as possible. Balancing the two can often be challenging. In making these decisions, it is best to conduct your own research, which includes visiting the different types of facilities and asking appropriate questions. It is also important to consult with professionals, which may include physicians, social workers, geriatric care coordinators, and elder law attorneys. And, if possible, discuss with your loved one what their hopes and wishes are. Being proactive by having these discussions and making the appropriate choices before you find your family in a crisis is the best way to ensure the best possible outcome for your loved one.
As our loved ones grow older, it is an increasing concern of how to balance their independence with their safety. This concern is often increased with a loss of a spouse, and it may become very difficult to keep our loved ones in their own home while still maintaining their safety. There are many choices out there, but the most common are assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes. Most people don’t know the differences, but they are quite different in both cost and the care that they provide.
In determining which type of facility is best suited for your loved one, you must first determine the type of care they need. Here it is important to distinguish between personal care and medical care. An assisted living facility is more geared towards providing personal care, such as meal preparation; help with bathing and dressing and housekeeping. They also are designed to encourage social interaction through activities and communal meals, to help prevent isolation which is common in the elderly. The settings of most assisted living facilities resemble what people may consider a nice apartment complex. This is strikingly different than most nursing homes, which serve a different purpose.
If your loved one is more in need of medical care, then a nursing home may be the appropriate setting for them. Nobody would choose a nursing home first; because the environment is much like being a hospital and because of the around the clock medical care – the cost may be close to double that of an assisted living facility. As assisted living facility is not licensed to provide medical care, so even if they have a nurse on staff, they will have a very hands off approach. Nursing homes are licensed with Medicare and Medicaid so they have to go through a rigorous set of regulations and thus the patients are guaranteed a certain level of care. Because of this, to be admitted you have to meet a certain level of care need. This must be determined by your physician.
We all want to keep our loved ones safe, while allowing them to maintain as much independence as possible. Balancing the two can often be challenging. In making these decisions, it is best to conduct your own research which includes visiting the different types of facilities and asking appropriate questions. It is also important to consult with professionals, which may include physicians, social workers, geriatric care coordinators and elder law attorneys. And…if possible, discuss with your loved one what their hopes and wishes are. Being proactive, having these discussions and making the appropriate choices before you find your family in a crisis, is the best way to ensure the best possible outcome for your loved one.
