Elderly care has to do with a constant meeting of the basic physical, emotional, mental and health needs of seniors citizens in the family or society.
Mature parents who can no longer perform any or some of the activities of daily living (ADLs) by themselves, are specially cared for on a daily basis. Thereby improving their overall wellbeing and happiness.
Caring for the aged is never an easy task. It requires lots of energy, resources and time to make it happen. Of course for parents that have devoted their lives caring for you in your younger years, nothing can be too much. The entire stress involved in caring for them is totally worth it.
There are several ways to care for the elderly today. These ways are mainly determined by the kind of living arrangement being used. Below, you will find a few of these living arrangements and how each of them works in elderly care.
Elderly Living Arrangements For Maximum Care And Attention
Many living arrangements for caring for the elderly exist today. Each of them can be used based on the individual need of the senior.
The following are just a few of them.
- Living With A Family Member
This is very common compared to others. Living with a relative or a family member, allows elderly parents to be adequately taken care of by members of their own family. Mainly unskilled caregivers.
This system to a great extent extent reduces cost since most of the care is given by the family member.
Though it has its advantages, it also come with many challenges you might want to consider before opting for it.
First is the fact that the family member will hardly have time for anything else, since he would have to constantly be around to attend to one need or the other the elderly may have.
Apart from that, the senior may not be getting all the care required. This is because there may be times when the family member who is the caregiver may not be around, due to one reason or the other.
So though this is definitely one of the easiest living arrangements to care for an elderly, it is not always the best option.
- Living Alone At Home
This is ideal for elderly parents who are still very much active and can do a few things well by themselves. Homes are bought for them in which they live and enjoy their retirement. Though they are also called for by their family members, they do not rely on that for their everyday living.
The challenge with this type of elderly care, is that it is not constant and sometimes many do it from a distance. In cases of emergencies, the elder is almost helpless.
- Assisted Living Communities.
In elderly care homes, this living arrangement is meant for seniors who can still move around but require help with bathing, dressing, medication, feeding and several other activities of daily living.
In this sort of living arrangement in elderly care homes, services like laundry and cleaning, exercise and several other activities equipment are provided. They may occasionally be group meals for the seniors. This helps them to interact with one another.
The living arrangement is made up of rental rooms or apartments that family members can pay to have their elderly parent live in.
- Independent Living Communities
This living arrangement in an elderly care home is ideal for elderly parents who are fully active but want to live independent lives among several other seniors. It is usually made up of apartments, mobiles homes etc, which can be bought or rented.
Here, it is common to find a clubhouse, gyms, laundry, transportation and security services among the many services provided or the seniors.
People who desire a place of rest away from the bustle and hustle of the city, can retire to this kind of care homes. They are often built in the coolest part of the city.
- Nursing Homes
Do you need a place away from the hospital and your house where a senior can stay for short term or long term, to recover from a surgery or illness? This is just the perfect place for that.
This living arrangement is also ideal for seniors suffering from a terminal disease that requires a 24 hours medical surveillance. Nursing staffs work round the clock to ensure that such seniors are adequately cared for.
Nursing homes for seniors are not always available in every elderly care home. You may have to spend some time and search them out in your locality.
Why You Consider An Elderly Care Home As A Senior
The idea of an elderly care home may sound like a foreign language to you if you have not given it a careful thought.
An elderly care home comes with lots of benefits which makes it the perfect option after retirement. The following are just a few of them.
- Professional Caregiving
Elderly care homes are usually staffed with professional caregivers, nurses etc, who are highly experienced in caring for seniors. You want to retire to a home where your dignity and respect will be made a priority. That is the most reason you should consider care homes for senior citizens.
- Social Amenities And Services
Nearly every social amenity and service and a senior requires on a daily basis is found in these care homes. This help to improve the overall wellbeing of the elderly.
- Adequate Medical Care
Apart from meeting the physical and mental needs of seniors, elderly care homes also provide medical support for them. They have medical doctors and nurses that regularly attend to the medical needs of the elderly there.
- Community
Elderly care home is a place where you will meet other senior citizens like yourself, with whom you can interact and share your experiences.
As humans, there is this level of comfort we feel when we are with people who are like us. We become more open and free to unburden whatever load we have in our hearts. This help in creating memories and happiness that will last.
Elderly care homes offers you such opportunities to meet and make friends with people of your age bracket.
In Summary
Elderly care homes whether owned by the government or NGOs, are among the places to retire to and have yourself well taken care of as a senior.
They have the facilities and staff to ensure that your physical, mental, emotional and health needs, are adequately met on a daily basis.
I hope this article meets you well.