Options for Elder Parent Care
As we grow older, our bodies and our minds begin to fade away. We lose our strength and can not always do the things we did earlier. Elder people need help in everyday living. Remember that with your e;der parents. Here are three elder care services that can help as they grow older.
Retirement Centers: When your parents can no longer mow the lawn, or keep house as they use to do then you might consider moving them to a retirement home. Generally these places are a collection of small one or two bedroom apartments with small kitchens and living rooms large enough for three or four guests at a time. They are generally restricted to people over 62 and some have Section Eight facilities.
Most retirement centers offer amenities such as exercise room, swimming pool, beauty shop, library and big club room. The club room is the center for all kinds of group activities to encourage the residents to get out and meet their neighbors. Here is where they play dominos, bridge, do arts and crafts, hold reading clubs and study the Bible. Don’t be surprised if you see at least one large jig-saw puzzle going. There is often a little kitchen associated with the club room for banquets, birthday parties, and snacks after talent shows.
These facilities do not offer medical attention or reminder services. The residents remain on their own, drive their own car, do their shopping, etc. Housekeeping services are usually available for a fee and the center does all the landscaping maintenance. The hard part of moving to a retirement center is giving up the home place with all its treasures. But it can be enjoyable after a little adjustment time.
Assisted Living Centers: When elderly people can no longer live by themselves then you might consider an assisted living center. The living space is much smaller, generally one room with a bed a couple of chairs, a microwave and an office size refrigerator. Cooking in the room is not permitted. All meals are taken in the lunch room. There is a reminder service for taking medicine and sometimes the meds are given to the residents so that the attendants know for sure that the pills are swallowed.
The residents congregate in a comfortable day room to watch television and other activities. All areas are wheel chair and walker accessible. The residents still enjoy some freedom but there is a great deal more attention provided. Some facilities may permit residents to drive their car, but generally this is discouraged.
Nursing Homes: When older people need attention and help much of the time, then consider shopping for a nursing home. Do a lot of shopping. There is a wide variety of facilities, services and amenities offered. Visit your choices several times and watch the staff. Talk to some residents and get their opinion of how life is at that facility.
Nursing homes provide living space and services to both bed-ridden clients and those who are ambulatory. Careful records are kept on all residents and each much sign in and out when they leave the building. Generally, a doctor and possibly a nurse or two are contracted by the nursing home to provide medical attention to those who need it. Ambulatory clients are sometimes taken on trips in the center’s van or bus. They can go shopping, sight seeing, or even a movie.
Staying at a nursing home is not necessarily a permanent place. A resident can be admitted to recover from a fall, for some rehabilitation exercise, recover from a stroke and other reasons for a stay of only a few months until they can go back to more freedom.
There is a great deal of variety in all three classifications and some developers combine some of the services. In the larger eldercare homes your parent might begin living in one side of a large complex that is much like a regular apartment. As they grow to need additional services they are moved to another wing and eventually across the complex to full rehab and nursing facilities. There is a different rent for each stage. The more services the resident contracts for, the higher the rent.
Always inspect the facilities that interest you and compare services, staff, and costs. Read the leases; they are legal contracts.
