As we grow older, most of us will eventually need some kind of long-term care to provide us with health and daily-living services. There are many care options available, so it?s important to explore these options and determine which one is right for you or your aging parent. According to experts in the field, most families wait to research and shop for care until they?re presented with an immediate need for it. Rather than waiting until the last minute, it will behefit you to research early on so you can thoroughly understand the different options available, and choose the one the best fits your needs so you aren?t spending unnecessary costs.
In order to choose the right kind of care, you first need to sit down and determine how much assistance you or your loved one needs. According to long-term-care insurers Genworth, you can ascertain the level of your needs on a five-point scale. Someone on the first level is independent and needs minimal to no assistance. Level two includes adults often suffering from early dementia who may need help shopping and paying the bills. At this level, family members can usually help and professional long-term care may not yet be needed. Someone at level three is more likely to need professional assistance, requiring four to five hours of help on a daily basis. Someone at level four generally needs someone constantly on call, and someone on level five is completely dependent on skilled-nursing care.
Where you or your family member falls on this scale will inform the kind of long-term care you choose. Here is a brief overview of some common kinds of care available:
Independent Living: Independent-living apartments are suited for seniors needing minimal to no outside care. Initially, independent-living communities were simply apartment complexes with age requirements. More recently, many of these communities began including nonmedical services including transportation, meals and concierge desks.
Assisted Living: These housing facilities are geared towards adults who need help with everyday tasks, such as dressing, bathing, eating or using the bathroom, but do not need 24-hour care. AL facilities may also coordinate health services, administer or supervise medication, and monitor resident activities to help ensure their health, safety and well-being.
Home Health Care: Seniors who don?t need 24-hour care can also choose to receive their care at home. Rather than living in an assisted-living community, some seniors hire caregivers to come to their homes and pay them for hourly services. One resource you can use to search for local healthcare agencies is Medicare?s Home Healthcare Compare Tool.
Adult-Day Services: Sometimes these services are in free-standing buildings; other times, they?re housed in assisted living communities, nursing homes or hospitals. Again, these services are geared toward adults who do not require round-the-clock care and generally sleep well at night. Adult-day services provide health, social and therapeutic activities in a group setting.
Respite-Care: This is a viable option for seniors who receive care from their adult children at home. Respite-care programs allow these seniors to check into an assisted-living community for a weekend or longer if a family member goes out of town.
Read more about different care options and their costs here: The cost of living longer.?
Source: http://www.epochsl.com/blog/adult-day-services/11/07/2012/what-senior-living-choosing-right-care-you
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