At times, family, friends, and community initiatives may not be enough for seniors with Alzheimer’s. It may be better for the senior to live in a residential facility that provides many long-term care services they require. Facility-based long-term care services include:
- Board and care homes.
- Assisted living facilities.
- Nursing homes.
- Continuing care retirement communities.
While some facilities just offer housing and housekeeping, many others additionally give personal care and medical treatment. In addition, many institutes provide specialized services for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It’s a good idea to think about what you want once you know what options you have. Nursing care, food, physical therapy, a religious connection, hospice care, or specific dementia care units are all essential to you. Do you want to be able to visit your relatives and friends effortlessly?
Consult with your friends and relatives. Find out what locations friends, family, social workers, and religious groups recommend by speaking with them. Consult your healthcare providers to see which nursing homes they believe give excellent care.
Best Options for Long-term Care Patients
Board and Care Homes
Small private institutions with 20 or fewer inhabitants are board and care homes, often known as residential care facilities or group homes. Private or communal rooms are available. Personal care and food are provided to residents, and personnel are accessible 24 hours a day. On-site nursing and medical treatment are rarely offered.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is for seniors who require daily assistance but not as much as a nursing facility. Assisted living facilities can have as few as 25 residents or as many as 120. Typically, a few “levels of care” are available, with greater levels of care costing more. For more info, visit the assisted living facilities in Macomb.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes, often known as skilled nursing facilities, offer various medical and personal care services. Unlike other assisted living homes, they place a greater emphasis on medical treatment. Nursing care, 24-hour monitoring, three meals a day, and support with daily chores are typical of these services. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are among the rehabilitation options provided.
After being in the hospital, some patients choose to stay in a nursing home for a short period. Then, they return home after recovery. On the other hand, most nursing home patients remain for the rest of their lives because they have persistent medical or mental disorders that need continual care and monitoring.
Retirement Communities with Continuing Care
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also known as life care communities, provide several levels of care in one area. In many of them, independent accommodation (houses or flats), assisted living, and professional nursing care is all available on the same site. There are also healthcare and entertainment programs available.
What to Look for in a Nursing Home?
A skilled nursing institution, commonly known as a nursing home, offers a comprehensive range of health and personal care services. Long-term nursing care, 24-hour monitoring, three meals a day, and support with daily chores are typical of these services. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are among the rehabilitation options provided.
After being in the hospital, some patients choose to stay in a nursing home for a short period. Then, they return home after they have recovered. On the other hand, most nursing home patients remain for the rest of their lives because they have persistent medical or mental disorders that need continual care and monitoring.
If you need to go to a nursing home following a hospital stay, the hospital personnel may assist you in finding one that will give you the most care possible. Ask your doctor’s office for advice if you’re looking for a nursing home.
Make many phone calls to several nursing facilities. Make contact with each location on your list. Inquire about the number of individuals who reside there and how much it costs. Find out whether there are any waiting lists.
Pay a visit to the assisted living facilities in Macomb. Make a meeting with the director and the nursing director a priority. Here are some suggestions for things to do while you’re there:
- During your visit, ask questions. Do not be hesitant to inquire. For instance, inquire about any unpleasant scents and get an explanation from the personnel. Foul odors may signal a problem, whereas pleasant smells may conceal one. You should find out how long the nursing home’s director and the leaders of the nursing, food, and social services departments have worked there. If essential members of the workforce are frequently replaced, it might indicate that something is amiss.
- Read your contract thoroughly. After you’ve decided on a nursing home, read the agreement carefully. Inquire about anything you don’t understand from the director or assistant director. Before you sign the contract, have a trusted friend or family member read it thoroughly.
Each state is required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to inspect every nursing facility that receives federal funding. Homes that do not pass inspection do not receive certification. Request a copy of any nursing home’s most recent inspection report and certificate.
What Can You Do to Make Moving Day Easier?
Moving is a highly stressful experience. For both the individual with Alzheimer’s and the caregiver, moving to an assisted living facility in Macomb, group home, or nursing home is a significant transition. You may experience a range of feelings, from grief to guilt and despair.
On the other hand, you could also feel relieved. It’s okay to have all of these emotions. A social worker may be able to assist you in preparing for and adjusting to your move. It’s critical to have help at this stressful time.
Here are some suggestions that may be useful:
- Be aware that the day may be pretty stressful. Discuss your thoughts about relocating the individual to a new location with a social worker. Learn how to assist someone with Alzheimer’s disease in making adjustments.
- Before the patient goes into a facility, get to know the personnel. Then, discuss methods with the staff to help the transition to the assisted living facility or nursing home.
It is always best to plan ahead of time.
Seeking assistance may help relieve the physical and mental strains of caregiving. The sooner you start thinking about it, the better. If you start planning ahead of time, you’ll have more time to research local resources and expenses. The person with Alzheimer’s may also communicate personal choices for future care if early planning is done.
