If your senior loved one is unable to live independently anymore, then you may need to consider some senior placement options. Depending on the aging adult's general health, he or she may either need to be placed in a skilled care nursing facility or an assisted living community. Both the admission director and your loved one's physician can help you determine which living situation is appropriate for the individual. Here are some ways to determine if elderly adults need to be placed in a skilled nursing facility or in an assisted living facility.
Diseases and Treatments
If your loved one has a chronic illness that needs frequent monitoring, he or she may be a candidate for a skilled nursing facility. For example, poorly managed diabetes requires frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels, which may require skilled nursing care. Similarly, if the senior requires daily injections, is receiving nutritional therapy through a tube, or has a Stage III or Stage IV decubitus ulcer, or pressure ulcer, a skilled nursing facility may be an appropriate option.
Skilled nursing facilities are staffed around the clock with both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Staffing also includes certified nursing assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, for those senior patients who are recovering from a stroke or other neurological disorder.
Grooming, Dressing, and Bathing Assistance
If your senior loved one only needs minimal assistance with his or her daily living activities such as grooming, dressing, and bathing, then an assisted living facility may be the most appropriate choice for the individual. An assisted living facility can also provide residents with nutritional meals and snacks, as well as social activities such as occasional outings to restaurants, shopping malls, museums, and sporting events.
If your loved one only requires minimal care, monitoring, meal preparation, or laundry services, then consider an assisted living facility. The assisted living staff members also make sure that the residents avoid social isolation, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Social isolation may also worsen certain chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose levels, headaches, and other types of chronic pain.
If your senior loved one cannot live independently anymore, call some assisted living facilities and skilled nursing homes. The admission directors or directors of nursing services can help you determine which healthcare facility is most appropriate for your loved one so that he or she gets the care he or she needs.
Older adults sometimes see nursing care as an all-or-nothing scenario. They assume they are either at home living independently, or they are in a nursing home where everything is done for them. This is not really the case, however. There are plenty of in-between options for older adults who need some care, but who may not need full nursing assistance yet. Assisted living centers allow this flexibility. Your older loved one can simply have their meals provided for them, or they can have around-the-clock care — or somewhere in-between. We invite you to explore the content provided to learn more.