Making Tough Choices About Elder Care

When an elderly parent encounters health problems, loss of cognitive function and increasing difficulty performing the activities of daily living, adult children find themselves faced with difficult choices.

Particularly challenging is having to choose the most appropriate type of care to safely and effectively manage your loved one’s needs while promoting an optimal level of independence and quality of life.

To aid in the decision process, consult your loved one’s physician.  Find out what can be done to treat or manage the senior’s condition. Also make sure the physician is aware of all the medications your parent is taking so that he or she can rule out overmedication or drug interactions as the cause of your parent’s difficulties.

You and your parent have a wide variety of elderly care options to choose from. In making the right choice you will need to take into consideration factors such as:

• You and your family’s availability to assist with elderly care. Do you, siblings or other relatives live near enough to provide or supervise care? Do other responsibilities limit your time commitment?
• Does your parent have cognitive limitations from Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions, compromising safety without supervision?
• Does your parent require medical care on a regular basis as well as assistance with the activities of daily living?

Elder care options to choose from include:

• Skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes, that provide around-the-clock coverage by registered nurses or licensed practical nurses, as well as medical, dietary, pharmaceutical and activities services, in addition to assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing and dressing.
• Intermediate care facilities, which provide many of the same services as a skilled facility but with less nursing coverage.
• Assisted living facilities, which are a residential elder care option that is a step between independent living and skilled care. These facilities are designed for seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living but do not require the level of health care services provided in a nursing home.
• In-home care and home health care. Professional elder caregivers who come into the home, partnering with family elder caregivers, prove an effective solution in helping seniors maintain independence at home for as long as possible. They help seniors with the activities of daily living. And when needed, home health care nurses can assist with health care needs