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Exploring Home Health Care Benefits


4 Different Types Of Long Term Care For Your Elderly Loved One

It's hard watching those that took care of you growing up start to get old and lose their ability to take care of themselves properly. As your elderly loved one gets older, you might notice that they start to lose their ability to take their medication properly, bathe, keep organized, or simply feed themselves. When you notice their facilities declining, it is time to start thinking about different types of long-term care that are available. There are a few options when it comes to long-term care for your elderly loved one that should all be considered before you make a choice.

At Home Health Care

If your elderly loved one has a home and can mainly care for him- or herself, or if he or she lives with you or another loved one and simply needs care when you or another loved one is away or at work, then you may want to consider at home health care. At home health care allows on call nurses to service the needs of your elderly loved one. This can range from everything from serving your loved ones food to helping them with using the restroom to servicing the medical needs with which nurses are familiar. At home health care is great for those individuals who can still get around physically fine, but may need help with remembering things and doing small day-to-day tasks.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are for those elderly loved ones that require a bit more care than at home health can provide. Nursing homes provide 24 hour assistance to their clientele and provide them with all of the amenities and medical services that at home health care can provide. In addition, your loved one will be cared for in an environment where he or she can flourish and meet new individuals. Nursing homes are generally reserved for those with debilitating diseases or mental illnesses. Nursing homes can ensure that your elderly loved one receives the medical attention that they need and the sociability that is important for mental wellness, as well as ensure that no harm befalls them.

Retirement Homes

Retirement homes differ from nursing homes in the level of care that is given to their patients. Retirement homes are generally reserved for elderly individuals who do not require such an extensive amount of medical or nursing care. They generally allow their members a greater deal of autonomy, and host numerous events throughout the month. Everything from low impact sports to communal games such as bingo are played at these establishments. Retirement homes will often have communal eating spaces and nurses that can check up on their clients day-to-day, but that aren't a constant presence. This option is great for those with slight medical needs who are competent enough to only need small check-ins.

Adult Day Care

Adult day care refers to an institution where elderly members are allowed to mingle with other elderly members of the community in a daytime setting. This differs from at home health care due to the fact that the elderly loved one will visit the institution rather than receiving at home care where the nurse will visit the loved one's home, or the home of the person the loved one is staying at. Adult day care usually provides a small degree of medical and nursing services, coupled with meals and activities to keep your loved one occupied throughout the day.

Providing your loved one with the care that they need in their old age need not be a difficult proposition. Be sure to talk with your elderly loved one, if their facilities permit, to get their input on what type of long-term care they would like to receive. You should also monitor their abilities, as some aging people will need a lot more care than others. It can be difficult to start long-term care for your elderly loved one, but ultimately it will lead to an overall better quality of life for both you and them.

You can click here for more information about care options in your area. 

About Me

Exploring Home Health Care Benefits

Hey there, I'm Jesse Sutherland. When I learned that my child would be born with severe disabilities, I worried about how I would perform all of the healthcare procedures on my own. My child needed mucus sucked out of both lungs around the clock at first. Furthermore, bathing and feeding often required two people to complete without messing up all of the tubes and monitors. Luckily, I was able to receive help from a home healthcare professional, which took a lot of pressure off my shoulders. I want to share all of the assistance I received from these professionals. I will also discuss the benefits of having help with difficult procedures. Thank you for visiting.

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