There are so many different types of eldercare, it can be confusing to try and figure out what it all means. You might be searching for an in-home caregiver, looking for a board and care facility, hunting for a skilled nursing facility, in need of memory care or perhaps you simply want to find an assisted living community.
There are thousands of assisted living communities throughout the United States, and these are communities designed for older adults who need some extra help with daily chores and tasks but are basically healthy and independent.
A good candidate for assisted living is someone who might have a bit of trouble dressing and grooming and no longer wants to tackle chores such as housekeeping, laundry and meal preparation. All of this typically is included in the monthly fees at an assisted living facility.
Assisted living facilities are not nursing homes and provide no medical care beyond basic medication management, but they can offer 24/7 monitoring and staffing in case of emergency. One of the biggest fears that the children of older parents face is the idea that their father or mother might be hurt and unable to summon help. At an assisted living facility, help is always available.
There are assisted living communities that also provide a section of housing specifically for those with dementia. Memory care facilities are designed to lower the stress of the resident, and employees are trained specifically to handle the needs of those with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Again, medical care is not provided, but often it is many years before a dementia patient needs extra medical care, and an assisted living facility can be a comfortable, inviting and safe home for your loved one.
In addition, your loved one might enjoy the socialization available at assisted living facilities. Living at home might seem very comfortable, but it can get very lonely, particularly if your parent no longer drives. Assisted living rates usually include recreational activities, special events and some level of transportation.
When selecting an assisted living facility, the most important part of the mix is checking out the management and staff. You will want to call the long-term care ombudsman and the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged against the facility. You also want to watch the way staff members interact with patients as well as with their own co-workers. Visit at different times of the day to truly get a feel for how things run at the facility. After all, you have different staff members on the premises at different times, but your loved one will be living there all of the time.
It’s best to start out by talking to an eldercare placement service. At Care Placement, we can answer questions about the type of care you should expect and match your loved one to a facility that fits within your budget as well as meeting your parent’s physical and emotional needs. You can begin the process by simply filling out our needs assessment questionnaire, and a local senior care advisor will contact you quickly.
We pre-screen assisted living facilities throughout San Diego County and Orange County, and we are San Diego’s largest free eldercare referral service.