As you get older, you might find yourself needing some additional support. It could be that you’re struggling with your mobility or have developed a health condition, or you might just feel lonely and want some company. Many things can change in your golden years, which is why understanding what type of care and support is available to you as a senior citizen is important.
Below is a breakdown of the different types of senior care available, whether you’re wanting to explore options for yourself or a senior relative. This guide might help you to figure out which type of care is right for your needs now, or what you might need in the future.
Retirement Community
Retirement communities are aimed at senior citizens who can still live independently, but perhaps are looking for more social opportunities. The benefit of moving to a retirement home is that residents are given private apartments to live in, usually with an on-site shop where they can purchase groceries and other necessities. They will also have access to a range of activities such as exercise classes, book clubs, gardening, dance classes, or arts and crafts among other things. This is a great way to socialize and make new friends with who you have something in common. There are even opportunities to go on organized days out which can be great fun and offer a change of scene. Another perk of living in a retirement community is that the grounds and properties are maintained by the company, so residents don’t have to worry about home maintenance work like they would if they stayed in their homes.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is similar to a retirement community, but aimed at people who are struggling to carry out simple daily tasks by themselves. In an assisted living residence, some carers can help seniors with things such as grooming, getting dressed, and bathing if they need assistance with these things. Meals are prepared for residents on-site in a restaurant, so they don’t have to struggle with cooking if this is another thing that they find difficult. Medication management is also part of the service in an assisted living facility if the residents need this as well. Like the retirement communities, you will find assisted living also provides entertainment for residents and social opportunities in the form of clubs and organized activities. You can discover more about what to expect from this type of care by looking at this facility for assisted living Haddonfield NJ.
Memory Care
This is a much more specialist type of care for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. These conditions can be incredibly difficult to deal with and upsetting for both the patient and their loved ones. Although early stages might be manageable at home, if a patient’s condition develops it could become dangerous to let them continue to live alone without the right support. It might be that they forget to turn off the stove or leave taps running because they have forgotten what they’re doing mid-task. They might grow confused and distressed if they don’t recognize the people around them or where they are. Sometimes patients with these conditions even leave their homes and get lost in the surrounding area, which leaves them vulnerable. This is why moving them into a memory care home could be the right solution, as they will get 24/7 care from specially trained professionals who can keep them safe, and who know tactics that can help to soothe them when they are feeling anxious or confused, as well as providing support and advice for loved ones.
At Home Care
If you or your relative isn’t comfortable with leaving home to move into one of these care facilities, hiring carers to visit you at home or move in with you could be the better solution. If you are struggling to cope with household tasks, having a carer to come and see you in your living environment so they can provide all the same support as they would in an assisted living facility is just as useful. A live-in carer might be more suitable if you do require care day and night, but you need to think about how comfortable you would be with this arrangement. If you need specific medical treatment, you may also have to hire a qualified nurse to come and administer your medication/treatments during the week as well.
Nursing Home
A lot of people think of nursing homes as a generic term for any type of senior care, but that isn’t the case. Nursing homes are for people who have problems with their health and require round-the-clock care. There will be qualified nurses working on-site alongside doctors who will regularly visit to assist with the healthcare. It is the highest level of geriatric care that can be received outside of a hospital, so it is only suitable for those who require this level of help with their health. They will still provide the same assistance as an assisted living facility, but there is a bigger focus on managing specific healthcare needs at a nursing home as well.
Move-in with Relatives
This is similar to at-home care, but rather than staying in their home, a senior citizen will move in with relatives. It can work well provided that the right support is in place, particularly if a senior’s health begins to decline and they require more specialist care. Again, nurses and carers can come and visit during the week, giving the relative who is acting as a carer a break or doing the things that they aren’t qualified to do. Moving a senior relative in with family members requires careful consideration as this can put certain pressures on a household, including the need to make modifications to the property to accommodate the needs of the senior relative.
You might find that you need to use more than one type of senior care as time progresses, but it’s important to understand what is available and what needs will be met by each service. This way you can prepare for the future better and take the time to figure out what is the best fit for you.
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