When thinking about senior care, most people might believe there are only one or two options available to choose from. This can make it difficult to decide whether or not an elderly relative should be put into care, or if a family should take on this responsibility themselves. While the latter is a noble choice, it isn’t always the best one, and sometimes it simply is not possible for a family to care for an elderly relative for numerous reasons. So, what senior care options are there, and which one is right for your elderly relative? Below are some great examples of the variety of senior care options available.
Independent Living Communities
Not all senior citizens need round the clock care, and many are still more than capable of looking after themselves. However, just because they can go about their daily routine with ease doesn’t mean that they can’t benefit from moving to a residential care community. Independent living facilities enable senior citizens to continue looking after themselves but can offer them the opportunity to meet new friends and be surrounded by people their age. For seniors that live alone or are far away from family and friends, this can be a great way for them to avoid becoming lonely and maintain an active lifestyle.
Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities are, as the name suggests, care homes that can offer residents daily assistance with the basics, like cooking, cleaning, and getting dressed. Residents will live in private apartments or rooms, and there will be communal areas they can spend time with other members of the community. There are usually daily activities for them to take part in, too. This kind of care is a little more hands-on than the independent living facilities, but not as intensive as a nursing home.
Skilled Nursing Home
A skilled nursing home can offer residents more hands-on healthcare than the options listed above. This kind of care is better for seniors who have physical ailments and who might be suffering from mental health issues such as dementia. There will be registered nurses on-site at these nursing homes, and they will be able to carry out daily healthcare requirements for residents as and when they need it.
Memory Care
Memory care facilities are aimed more at people who have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions can be very difficult to cope with, both for the patient and their relatives. While at first, it might seem as though they can manage to live independently with the condition, eventually it is likely to worsen, and professional care will be required. These specialist care facilities are designed to keep patients safe and can offer them a good quality of life while living with dementia.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
CCRC’s are senior care facilities that can bridge the gap between independent living and assisted living needs. This combination of the two can be an ideal choice, as it could provide a more long-term solution for senior care, avoiding the fuss of another move once a resident can no longer live independently.
There are plenty of care options for seniors to choose from, so it shouldn’t be hard to find the right kind of care for your elderly relative when the time comes.
