Growing older is a natural part of life, but it can get to a point where you might not be able to do the things that you used to. It might start as something as simple as having to take it a bit easier at the gym, you start to feel more worn out at the end of the day, or you feel extra delicate in the morning after a few glasses of wine. These are all normal things that won’t affect your daily life in a big way, but when you start being unable to do basic household tasks or you start noticing more serious problems in your senior years, that is when you might want to think about getting some professional help.
If you’re a senior citizen, or you are concerned about the welfare of an elderly parent or relative, perhaps you have already considered looking into care options for them. It’s essential that you get them the right support so they feel comfortable and their needs are attended to, so if you’re struggling to decide, here are some tips that you might find useful when choosing senior care.
What Are Their Needs?
There are various types of senior care available and you must understand your parent’s needs to find the right fit for them. For example, if they are still capable of looking after themselves but they feel lonely because they don’t live with anybody else, perhaps a retirement community would be a good option for them? They still have their independence, private accommodation, but they are living with people of a similar age that they can bond with. If your parent is struggling to get dressed, prepare meals, or do household chores, an assisted living facility would be a better option. Here, they would have trained carers to help them with grooming, cleaning, and have their meals prepared for them. They can also have access to medication management if this is something else that they need. Look at Belmont assisted living options with the company Belmont Village Senior Living.
If they are suffering from dementia, they will need specialist care. Memory care living facilities can provide this for them, or you can take them to memory care centers once or twice a week if you are looking after them at home. If your elderly parent doesn’t want to move into any type of care home but still needs help around the house, another option is hiring a carer and/or nurse to come to their house to visit with them each day or a few times a week to help them out.
Price
When you know what type of care they need, you will then need to discuss your budget. Talking about money in the context of providing care for somebody can be uncomfortable, but the reality is that it can get expensive, so you need to be honest about how much money you can afford to spend. Your parent might have some savings that they are happy to use as a contribution, but you will also need to discuss this with your partner and your siblings or any other family members that are involved. While you want to make sure your parent is getting the best care possible, everyone who is contributing to the costs needs to be able to afford it.
Location
If you are planning on moving your parent into a care facility you will also need to consider the location. It needs to be somewhere that is easy for you and/or other family members to get to for visits, and also in case, there is an emergency. Choosing a care facility that is in a safe part of town is also key so you have peace of mind that they aren’t at risk. It shouldn’t be more than an hour’s drive away, but the closer to you the better.
Onsite Amenities
Another thing you will want to take into consideration is what amenities are available onsite at the care facility you’re looking at. Some will offer things like a gym and swimming pool, a restaurant, libraries, and access to computers, gardens, and hair salons. This is important because these amenities will help to make your parent more comfortable and can provide them with things to do to help maintain good health. They often put on organized clubs like arts and crafts, book clubs, film nights, or other evening entertainment.
Social Opportunities
As mentioned above, a lot of care facilities organize group activities which is a great way for your parent to socialize with other residents and make friends. They may also arrange day trips to art galleries, museums, and other fun days out that your parent can do with their new friends. They must have the chance to do these things to boost their mood and keep them socially active, especially if they have been struggling with loneliness.
What Do They Want?
While looking out for all of the above is necessary when choosing a care facility, the most important thing is to make sure your parent is comfortable with the choice you make as well. He or she is the one who will be moving in there, so they must have a say (if they are still capable) on where they end up. Make sure they are accompany you for a tour of each facility you’re considering and ask them what they want to get out of this so you know that it’s the right fit for them as well as yourself.
Reviews
Finally, make sure you are looking at reviews of the care facilities you’re considering before you make your final decision. While you’re taking a tour, the staff will do what they can to promote it, so reading reviews to get a well-rounded view of what life will truly be like there for your parent is key.
Choosing the right care options for an elderly parent can be challenging as you only want what is best for them. If you’re struggling to know where to start, use these tips as a helpful guide to fit the right type of care for your parent.
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