Is It Time For Assisted Living
Moving your elderly parent into an assisted living community can be a very emotional experience for all involved. It can feel like a loss of independence and privacy for your parent and you might feel guilty for even proposing this option. If your parent is capable, its their decision.
Its important to remember that assisted living is not a sign of defeat. Rather, its a viable living option that can help ensure your parents safety and address their needs. Plus, unlike nursing homes, assisted living facilities foster a sense of self-sufficiency for your mom or dad but with added support.
As you and your parent research different assisted living homes together, use the above guidelines to help ease the transition. Approaching this new phase in a loving, methodical, and compassionate way will help improve your parents emotional outlook and keep you focused on finding a place that feels as home-like as possible.
What are your primary concerns about assisted living for your mom or dad? Have you begun to visit any assisted living facilities? How are you and your parent handling this transition? Wed love to hear from you.
How Much Do Skilled Nursing Facilities Cost
Nursing home costs vary by location, state funding, and not-for-profit status. Skilled nursing facilities are generally more expensive than other senior living communities, since residents require more help with medical needs and personal care.
The cost difference between assisted living and nursing home care is significant. The median monthly cost of nursing homes in the U.S. is about $7,989 for a semi-private room and $9,086 for a private room, according to Genworth.
Unlike many assisted living communities, nursing homes can often be paid for using government assistance for lower-income residents.
Q Is Assisted Living Long
Assisted living seems like it might be long-term care. But I’m not certain because you still live pretty independently. Is assisted living long-term care and what is it?
Assisted living does fall under long-term care and can be covered under a long-term care insurance policy. Assisted living is housing that is designed for people who need some form of assistance with medical care or personal care. Speak with your independent insurance agent for more specifics in your area.
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How Do I Choose An Assisted Living Community
You can start your search for an assisted living community by entering your city or zip code at the top of this page. Youll see a directory of the best assisted living communities in your area.
If youd like more assistance, contact one of our skilled Family Advisors at 973-1540. A Family Advisor can provide you with personal, one-on-one guidance to help you find the right assisted living community for your family.
Who Can Benefit From Nursing Home Care
The higher level of care offered in a skilled nursing facility versus an assisted living community makes nursing homes an ideal choice for seniors who require significant medical care in addition to companionship, assistance with ADLs, and on-site amenities. A nursing home may fit the needs of elderly loved ones who require a greater level of care. These seniors may:
- Require constant care due to chronic conditions or deteriorating health
- Be unable to feed themselves independently
- Have significant mobility concerns
- Have experienced an injury or fall and need significant rehabilitation
- Have progressive conditions, like Parkinsons disease or MS
- Require regular injections for diabetes or other conditions
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What Is Assisted Living And How Is It Different From A Nursing Home
As the daughter or son of an aging parent, you might find yourself asking, What is assisted living?
Assisted living is a home-like care facility that provides personal and medical assistance for people while prioritizing their independence. Those in need of assistance receive services ranging from personal care services and skilled nursing to senior housing.
If your parent is requiring consistent help in their daily lives, it may be time to turn to long-termcare. To determine whether assisted living communities are right for your parent, lets explore how theyre similar and different from nursing homes, which are perhaps a more well-known form of senior care service.
How Do I Pay For Long
Many people think that Medicare will pay for their long-term care expenses, but this usually is not true. Instead, people have to rely on their savings, long-term care insurance or Medicaid to cover the costs.
And while Medicaid pays for the largest share of long-term care services, to qualify your income and assets must be below a certain level and you must meet the minimum state eligibility requirements. To find out if you might be eligible for Medicaid or to apply for benefits, visit the Your Texas Benefits website.
Note: Texas is required by federal law to have a Medicaid Estate Recovery Program. This means that if you received Medicaid long-term care services, the state of Texas has the right to ask for money back from your estate after you die. In some cases, the state may not ask for anything back, and the state will never ask for more money back than it paid for your services.
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Assisted Living Vs Long
- Assisted Living vs. Long-Term Care: Exploring Your Options
Seniors have quite many options in regards to how and where they will spend their post-retirement years. Thats a great thing in that the elderly get to choose the environment where they will be most comfortable and have their needs met in a professional and friendly manner.
When choosing the ideal long-term care option, there are several factors that one must consider. The elements to consider in such cases include but are not limited to the level of care, location, accommodation spaces, budget, amenities, activities and diet.
Among the most popular options are assisted living and long-term care. Let us look at similarities and differences of both assisted living and long term care in general to see what senior living option is best for you or your loved one.
What is Assisted Living? The general definition of assisted living is that it is a senior care option that older adults can choose when they want to maintain their independence but also need some help with day to day activities. With assisted living, senior citizens access personal care support services like medication management, meals, dressing, bathing, transportation, emergency response protocols, and frequent opportunities for social interaction and recreation.
What is Long-Term Care? Long-term care includes a broad range of supportive and medical services that aged adults get for an extended period.
Assistance With Daily Activities
Assisted living
If residents of an assisted living facility need help with daily activities, such as bathing or getting dressed, those services are provided.
Laundry, housekeeping, and meal preparation services are available to residents who need them.
Nursing home
In a nursing home, most people need more extensive help caring for their daily needs.
Staff members help residents bathe, dress, use the restroom, and take their medications. Meals are prepared by a kitchen staff, and the staff take care of laundry and cleaning for the residents.
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Difference Between The Levels Of Care Provided
Nursing homes are known for providing 24-hour assistance for elderly patients who may require immediate medical attention at any time. Residents often live with age-related ailments such as dementia or osteoporosis, which makes it especially difficult for them to function on their own.
Medical assistance is provided for people living in nursing homes. This often includes skilled nursing care, breathing assistance, toileting, full-time monitoring, and emergency services.
On the other hand, assisted living is often provided for older people who may not have a serious illness that affects their quality of life. However, they still need some level of care to help them remain as independent as possible. Or they may want to spend less time cooking and cleaning, and enjoy their life without doing these daily tasks.
Assisted living facilities are less focused on nursing and health care, and more on supporting residents to maintain a safe environment with a high degree of autonomy.
Making Decisions About Long
Begin by thinking about what would happen if you became seriously ill or disabled. Talk with your family, friends, and lawyer about who would provide care if you needed help for a long time. Read about how to prepare healthcare advance directives.
You might delay or prevent the need for long-term care by staying healthy and independent. Talk to your doctor about your medical and family history and lifestyle. He or she may suggest actions you can take to improve your health.
Healthy eating, regular physical activity, not smoking, and limited drinking of alcohol can help you stay healthy. So can an active social life, a safe home, and regular health care.
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Are There Other Options
If independent living is the goal, you may find it more appealing or more cost-effective to use home health aides or assistants to help care for an older adult at home.
Another increasingly popular option is shared housing, in which older adults live together or with a younger person. This may help keep down housing costs, while also staving off loneliness and isolation.
For people who want companionship but dont need extensive medical care, board-and-care homes may be an option.
Board-and-care homes are smaller residential settings where several older adults live in a single home with a caregiver on site.
Costs Of Home Care In Ontario
Home care in Ontario can be publicly funded by the government or paid for privately by an individual.
Most of the time, the government will cover at least part of the cost of home care services. In fact, figures from Statistics Canada show that 91% of households reported no out-of-pocket costs for home care nursing services, and 79% reported they didnt have to pay for other home care services .
However, the amount of publicly funded care might not be enough for all of your home care needs, so individuals often supplement by purchasing additional private care.
Publicly Funded Home Care in Ontario
Publicly funded home care in Ontario is coordinated by the LHINs, the government body that decides the level of care needed, as well as frequency. You can follow these steps to apply for publicly funded home care.
The LHINs, however, are just funders and coordinators, and do not actually provide the healthcare services directly. So, if you do qualify for publicly funded home care, the LHINs will assign a certain home care provider to your case, and that provider will then contact you to schedule a home visit.
Private Home Care in Ontario
Private home care is when an individual directly requests healthcare services from a home care service provider. This can be through a home care agency, or directly through an independent healthcare provider.
Individuals may require private care services if:
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What Services Do Nursing Homes And Residential Care Facilities Provide
Nursing homes provide nursing and personal care on a 24-hour basis including care given under the supervision of a nurse, administration of medication and assistance with daily living. Other services may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation, and those provided by a Social Worker.
Residential care facilities provide assistance with personal care such as, bathing and dressing, and reminders about daily routines. Personal care and supervision are provided by Residential Care Workers who are available on site at all times.
For both nursing homes and residential care facilities, staff administer all medications for residents. The facilities have medical advisors but residents may continue to visit their family doctor. Residents usually have private bedrooms or share with one other person but common spaces include dining and living areas, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces. Residents are served three meals per day and snacks. Menus consider residents preferences, accommodate special diets, and follow Canadas Food Guide.
What Is Assisted Living
Assisted living is for people who need help with daily care, but not as much help as a nursing home provides. Assisted living facilities range in size from as few as 25 residents to 120 or more. Typically, a few “levels of care” are offered, with residents paying more for higher levels of care.
Assisted living residents usually live in their own apartments or rooms and share common areas. They have access to many services, including up to three meals a day assistance with personal care help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry 24-hour supervision, security, and on-site staff and social and recreational activities. Exact arrangements vary from state to state.
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Who Can Benefit From Assisted Living
Assisted living communities are designed for seniors who wish to maintain independence as long as possible in a secure setting designed to fit their needs. Assisted living may be a good option for your aging loved one who fits the following descriptions:
- Needs minor nursing assistance or medication but doesnt require full-time medical care
- Needs help with daily activities like dressing and bathing
- Is interested in a maintenance-free lifestyle without lawn care or home repairs
- Desires an active life but doesnt have access to transportation
- Is looking for new friends or social activities
- Wants to pursue their passions, like golf, art, or religious studies, in a specially focused lifestyle community
- Is currently in good health but knows theyll need more help soon
Making Housing Decisions: Aging In Place
In thinking about long-term care, it is important to consider where you will live as you age and how your place of residence can best support your needs if you can no longer fully care for yourself.
Most people prefer to stay in their own home for as long as possible. Learn about services, products, and resources that can help older adults stay in their homes.
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Community Care Facility Reports
Health authorities post summary inspection reports on their websites for routine and follow-up inspections of community care facilities licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act or licensed or designated under the Hospital Act. The reports include information relating to substantiated complaints and inspections.
Family and Resident Councils
A family and/or resident council is a group of persons who either live in a long-term care home or are the contact persons, representatives or relatives of long-term care home residents, and who meet regularly to identify opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for the care home clients, and to engage with staff to contribute a voice in decisions which affect the clients. A resident/family council is self-led, self-determining and democratic.
Family And Resident Councils
A Family or Resident Council is a group of persons who either live in a long-term care home or are family/representatives of residents. They work together with staff to maintain and enhance the quality of life of residents. They also provide a voice in decisions within the facility that affect them.
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What Optional Services Can I Choose To Pay For In Addition To My Monthly Rate
Long-term care homes may also offer you optional equipment, products, and services in addition to those that are included as part of your long-term care services. If you choose to receive any of these optional services, you may be required to pay an additional fee over and above your monthly rate. These optional services may include:
– facial tissue
Who Can Benefit From A Nursing Home
A nursing home can be the right choice for someone whose medical needs require full-time care and access to services that are more similar to a hospital than a home. Some families choose to transition to a nursing home after a serious infection, or when a senior is continually in and out of the hospital.
Because skilled nursing facilities offer extensive care, they can provide more stability to seniors who might otherwise spend extended periods of time in the hospital. Some nursing homes also deliver hospice services, providing palliative care to seniors who are nearing the end of their senior living journey.
However, if a seniors needs are more minimal such as assistance with ADLs like bathing, dressing, or toileting or if a senior needs simple care such as physical therapy and medication management a nursing home may be too restrictive and needlessly add costs.
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Home Care & Care In The Community
Home Care & Care in the Community can be less expensive than institutional care when care is only required a few hours each day, but more expensive when full-time care is needed. Paid home care can be provided by licensed professionals or by home care aides. Community care can be provided in adult day care centers or adult day health care centers. In many communities, you will find various case management and community-based services and programs designed to help older people stay at home. Contact your local I& R program online or call 1-800-510-2020 for additional information about these services in your community.
What Are Some Key Signs That It May Be Time For Assisted Living
The decision to help an aging adult move out of a current home is a complex one- both emotionally and practically. Above all, you want the person to be safe and well. Although every situation is different, the following signs are some key indicators that it may be time for a senior to transition to an ALF.
- Increasing difficulty managing the activities of daily living
- Recent accidents in the home or while driving
- Slower recovery times after an accident or illness
- Noticeable weight loss or increased frailty
- Changes in ones appearance, such as stained clothing or unkempt hair
- Loneliness due to lack of companionship
- Bills and loans going unpaid and mail from creditors going unopened
- Signs of dangerous driving
- Stale or expired foods in the pantry and refrigerator
- Broken appliances that your loved one used to use regularly
- Signs of lax housekeeping such as a dirty bathroom or lots of clutter around the home
Ultimately, no one other than the senior and those closest to them will know when its the right time to transition for assisted living. But if one or more of the above situations occur, its a sign that the person could benefit from the services provided in an ALF.
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