Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Comfort Keepers offers non-medical senior care with the goal of keeping seniors independent and in their own homes for as long as possible. There may be times when independent living is not the best answer for the senior. This article reviews two other living options and explains how Comfort Keepers can supplement those living arrangements.

Two options for long-term senior care outside the home are assisted living communities and nursing homes. These facilities may operate independently or be part of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), which offers a continuum of long-term care services, from independent living to nursing.

The following is an explanation of the differences and advantages of both.

Assisted Living

Assisted living communities offer an intermediate level of care--between independent living and nursing home care. They serve seniors who can no longer live independently at home but need basic assistance with the activities of daily living, as opposed to the more extensive medical and nursing services provided in a nursing home.

With a residential focus, assisted living facilities maximize a resident's independence. They offer seniors greater privacy than nursing homes and feature individual apartments that include a kitchen or kitchenette, private bath and emergency call systems.

Assisted living communities offer 24-hour supervision and may offer services that include housekeeping, transportation, laundry, a choice of meal service, some medication assistance, and help, as needed, with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating and mobility. Care provided is tailored to a senior's specific needs. Assisted living facilities also offer health and exercise programs, as well as social, cultural and educational activities.

In contrast to older homes, in which many seniors live, assisted living communities are designed to safely accommodate people with mobility problems and vision impairments. They typically have wide hallways and floor plans that are easy to navigate with walkers and wheelchairs.

Assisted living communities operate under less governmental regulation than nursing homes, so families may need to conduct more of their own research in choosing an assisted living facility.   At times, seniors who enter assisted living communities may choose to have, or continue to have, a Comfort Keeper attend to them as well.   This personalized attention and care can create a very supportive environment for a senior that may be experiencing physical or mental challenges.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes serve seniors who are unable to care for themselves and have chronic illnesses or disabilities that require 24-hour skilled nursing care. Nursing homes provide nursing care, rehabilitation, medical services, personal care, activities, and dietary service in a supervised, protected setting.

Nursing home residents live in private or semi-private rooms that are shared with a roommate.

Some nursing homes offer specialized, secure units and programs to safely care for persons in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related conditions. Assisted living communities may also care for persons with dementia, but typically in the early stages of the disease.

Many nursing home residents require extended care for chronic illnesses or disabilities. Nursing homes also offer short rehabilitative stays to help seniors regain their independence and mobility following hospitalization for surgery or accident, such as a fall, or an illness, such as a stroke. After this short-term care they may return home or to an assisted living facility.

Comfort Keepers supports seniors' non-medical needs in their own homes, in assisted living communities and in nursing homes.  Comfort Keepers is dedicated to providing our clients with the highest level of quality of life that is achievable.   We treat each of our clients with the respect and dignity they deserve, as though we were caring for a member of our family, regardless of the setting.