What Are The Senior Care Options?
Sorting through all the options for senior living and care can be a daunting task. There are so many different options that it can be confusing to know what to look for. Nursing homes will often get calls from families who need basic care for their loved one like help dressing, not realizing that nursing homes only help with more advanced skilled care.
One client told me she had made over 60 calls regarding her motherâs situation and still felt lost.
Finding the best senior living and care can be like putting together a puzzle without knowing the final picture. Here are the basic care options and the differences between them. Itâs important to note that each care option has a specific license from the state and a disclosure of services, listing exactly what care they can and canât provide.
Most people donât research Senior Living until they need it and are often facing crisis when they do…
Independent Living: Also referred to as Retirement Living, this option is most often selected by seniors who are still active and driving but no longer want the burden of keeping up a home. They want to enjoy more of life free from lawn care and home maintenance. Some of these communities offer future care assistance sometimes requiring a move to a different building or apartment and some provide assistance without requiring a move. Communities that donât offer in-house assistance often partner with In-Home care companies so that residents can remain living there.
Assisted Living: This option is for those needing a little extra help with their day to day. Most often theyâre not driving, can no longer prepare nutritious meals or might be forgetting to take their medications properly. Assistance can be as simple as bathing assistance to more complex care such as catheter care. These communities come in all different shapes and sizes and vary in the level of care they can provide.
Adult Family Homes: For someone who may not be safe behind closed doors or would benefit from a more close knit environment, this is a good option. They are smaller versions of Assisted Living with a maximum of 6 residents. Think about your friends and family and how different each of their homes are and youâll have an idea of how different each Adult Family Home can be. The home concept and the small number of residents creates a more intimate environment and care. They can vary widely in areas of specialty, licensing and cost. There are over 100 adult family homes in Kent, WA alone.
Memory Care: The symptoms of dementia and Alzheimerâs disease vary from person to person. For instance, someone may be âwanderingâ about the house or actively looking for the door. Someone else may just need reminders that itâs meal time and escort to get there. There are memory care communities and adult family homes that specialize in memory care. Deciding which option your loved one needs is sometimes clear and sometimes more complex.
Home Care: Many folks want to stay in their home as long as possible. This option is for those that only need lighter care or companionship and are generally safe to live in their homes. This may include help preparing meals, bathing or running errands.
Home Health Care: This option would provide medical assistance from wound care to medication management. Home health is often the next step after a surgery or fall.
Private Duty Caregivers: There are websites that can put you in touch with private caregivers who often live in your home and can provide basic care needs as well as housekeeping and meal preparation.
Home Health & In-home Care are often used to help prolong a stay at home or in an Independent Living Community.
Skilled Nursing: Your loved one may find themselves in the hospital and be referred to a skilled nursing facility to continue their recovery. There are Therapists, Drâs, nurses, caregivers and social workers there to provide a very high level of care to people of all ages. These stays are usually short term but some also have long-term care as well.
There are many options that not only vary in the care they can or canât provide but also vary widely in cost. Weâve helped so many families find the right option, for their loved one. Let us know if we can help you too!
