The phrase "nursing home" has a negative connotation. While many nursing home facilities do a wonderful job caring for their patients, the reality is that most residents spend the majority of their time in bed, alone and/or largely unattended.
For this reason, many families seek an alternative to a nursing home, with the goal of preserving their loved one's independence, quality of life and comfort for as long as possible.
5 Popular Alternatives To a Nursing HomeThe following are 5 alternatives that can keep adult family members active and healthy while still allowing you and other family members to honor your own lives and responsibilities.
1. Community Services. There are plenty of adult-oriented services that provide support with things like shopping or errand running, companion visits, adult daycare and meal provision. These services help adults remain in their own homes for as long as possible. The services can be mixed-and-matched, and may only require occasional, scheduled visits from in-home care providers or family members to fill in certain gaps.Check in with your local senior center, where community-specific information is readily available. The center itself can be an invaluable resource, offering things like community mealtimes, craft classes, exercise classes, bingo, gardening and other programs.
2. In-Home Care. This option can work various ways. The client may remain home with all care brought in from the outside. Or, the individual might move in with a family member or to an independent "granny unit" on a family member's property. In some cases, a family member may be the primary caregiver, in others more professional or skilled care can be brought in. The latter is recommended in cases where a medical or memory diagnosis is more complicated or when respite care is required.
If you go this route, it's highly recommended that you consult with local in-home nurse or caregiving agencies ahead of time. Even if you do not require their services immediately, establishing a relationship now can be invaluable when/if you need them down the road.
3. Board and Care Homes. Board and care homes are becoming increasingly popular. These are typically residential homes or very small apartment-like settings, located in residential neighborhoods. Board and care homes are ideal for seniors or adults who can no longer live independently but who seek an alternative to a nursing home or large assisted living community. Group home environments provide the feeling of home, community and social stimulation but also offer meals, basic hygiene care and a team of skilled caregivers, 24-hours a day.
4. Assisted Living Facility. In an assisted living facility, residents typically have their own units but have ready access to communal areas, meals and help with daily activities, including hygiene tasks. The level of medical assistance provided varies from establishment to establishment so consider the individual's long-term goals when making your selection. Of course, private nurses or caregivers can be hired to provide assistance where the facility's offerings taper off.
5. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC). CCRC's provide transitional care that progresses from independent living, to assisted living for those who need help with general daily care and then nursing home care for those who require a higher level of medical and/or memory care. CCRC's are an excellent choice for seniors who have a known medical condition that will progressively require more skilled care, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer's. These communities are typically the most expensive of the adult care options available.
Medicare, Medicaid or private health insurance carriers, depending on the individual's medical diagnosis, may subsidize the cost of in-home and other senior care services.
Source : articlesbase.com
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