Home care are caregivers when you need them!
The American population is a population that is growing older as the nation grows older seniors and their families are facing the issue of deciding to move into a nursing home. The decision to move into a nursing home may come on suddenly for reasons such as an illness or the need to move into a nursing home might arise more slowly and gradually over time to the point that nursing home becomes the best option.
Moving into a nursing home can be a very stressful event for the individual moving into the nursing home and their families as well. Why involve him or her to that? This stress often comes from misconceptions about what are home care Adult Foster Care homes vs. Nursing Homes. Because of this it is important to clear up these misconceptions. At nursing homes the patient to care ratios are horrendous. In home care you receive care in the comfort of your own home where caregivers are a phone call away. Adult Foster Care Homes are private senior care homes that have caregivers on staff 24 hours a day in a home like atmosphere.
Home care in most cases are the least level of care being in the comfort of your home outside of hospitals. Nursing homes provide several levels of care in a facility like environment. Home Care assist in the basic and sometimes minimal needs of the resident. Home care on the other hand help out the such things as assistance in dressing, bathing, feeding, grocery shopping and much more. With all of that in mind outside of a Nursing Home, Home Care may be the 1st option you or your loved one.
Living in a Nursing Home
Every nursing home is different. Some nursing homes have private rooms and/or shared rooms. Some nursing homes provide meals in the rooms, others have a dining area for all residents. Lastly, some rooms have their own bathrooms or bathrooms may be shared. You may find that some Nursing Homes may have cafeteria like meals. Some Nursing Homes may have a high turnover rate of employees so a familiar face might be rare.
Trusted Home Care is a Phone Call Away
Deciding whether a loved one needs quality home care is an extraordinarily difficult decision. This decision can cause all types of emotions such as guilt, anger, and frustration.Unfortunately sometimes people must be placed in a nursing home for the well being of the loved one. The following are some of the questions that need to be asked when deciding to place a loved one in home care:
- Has the senior been evaluated by a medical professional to see if full time care is necessary? This is very important in the care of a senior, a medical professional needs to be consulted to make sure the seniors needs are going be met. If a medical professional decides that a nursing home placement is necessary for a senior this advice should be headed for the well being and safety of the senior.
Finding quality Home care or Nursing homes.
Finding a home is never an easy process, many very difficult decisions have to be made on the loved ones behalf and often these decisions have to be made quickly. The following are some tips in finding the right nursing home for your loved one:
Become educated on nursing homes vs. private senior care and thereby become an informed advocate for your loved one. Learn to take advantage of the many government resources available to you. Also there are advocacy groups that should be used by you to gain information for your loved. By pooling this information together into one cohesive knowledge base you are going to be better equipped to make the right decision for your loved one.
Get referrals from people about nursing home facilities, then compare them to private senior home care. Ask your medical providers about nursing homes vs. home care, and what they think would be best for your loved one. Also, ask questions from people outside of the medical community. Few people have not been touched by the issue of senior care. Many people may be able to help you find the right place for your loved one.
Consider if the nursing home can meet the needs of your loved one. Are you getting the quality in care vs. home care? A lot of homes specialize in certain kinds of care such as people with Alzheimer's. It's important to place your loved one in a home like environment that understands and knows how to handle their issues.
Consider distance from loved ones for the senior. The closer the home is to the family of the senior the easier it will be for the family to visit.
Does the staff have a lot of turnover, does the staff speak with you, how does the staff monitor the medical condition and provide medication to the senior? Lastly does the staff show real interest in the seniors at the home? Some nursing homes it hard to even find a nurse to talk to.
Does the current residents at the home look happy? Do the residents appear to be living fulfilling lives? Lastly, do the residents appear healthy well groomed and taken care of? Compare the home to other nursing homes and you will see a remarkable difference in care.
Finally, when visiting a nursing home or a private senior care home, evaluate for yourself if you think the food looks healthy, is the facility clean, are there activities for the residents, and does the facility in your view have a positive atmosphere.
Nursing Home Costs
Nursing homes costs are never going to be inexpensive. The average cost is $70,000 per resident. Medicare will only cover a limited amount of the costs so it is important to understand the costs of nursing homes. If assets are limited Medicaid may be an option. It also may be wise to contact an elder
- Can the primary care giver of the senior meet the senior'sneeds? The senior may have numerous medical needs that a caregiver cannot provide. This may be because the care giver is not qualified or simply does not have enough time to adequately care for the loved one. Some seniors need 24 hours of medical attention, and that simply is not possible for some care givers.
- Is the care situation temporary? Sometimes care will only be temporary and can be taken care of by a professional in the home. In other situations care will be permanent and needs to be on a 24 hour basis. In this situation the best place to find 24 hour care outside of hospital is in a nursing home or Adult Foster Care Home.
What is Home Care?
That’s what we do. We are about sustaining and maintaining your loved one’s quality of life in their home keeping them safe and comfortable.
What you get from home care:
• Help with personal grooming like bathing or getting dressed.
• Help with moving around and getting in and out of bed or the shower.
• Medication reminders.
• Helping a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia by grounding and orienting them.
• Help with errands like grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions.
• Help preparing meals.
• Help with household chores like vacuuming or doing laundry.
• Companionship and friendship so your loved one is not alone.
Help with these and other daily-living activities can help your loved one stay independent.
Why is Home Care Better than a Facility with Regular Skilled Care?
It comes down to independence. According to the AARP, 92 percent of people over the age of 65 want to stay in their home as long as possible because they don’t want to give up their freedom. When your loved one stays at home, they retain their sense of self – instead of becoming part of a facility’s machine. In-home care helps them keep that value, letting them live their life on their schedule, not a facility’s. They can take a bath when they want to take a bath, not when the facility has time for them. The goal is to customize a care plan for each individual – this is not a one-size-fits-all process.
attorney to see what options are available. Lastly, if Long Term Care Insurance has been purchased that can be utilized as well.
Emotions with Nursing Homes
Moving into nursing home can be a very difficult time for a senior and their family. The family and the senior needing a nursing home may feel many negative emotions such as anger, fear, and frustration brought on by the stress of having to move into a nursing home. To help deal with this stress, when deciding on a nursing home the senior should be involved in deciding which nursing home they will be moving to if possible by visiting various nursing homes. If it's not possible for the senior to visit nursing homes, the family should consider what the senior might want in regards to a nursing home. Home care can be a great solution with on hand outstanding patient to employ ratio, with a home like environment to make the transition easier for all.
