| We all dread the thought of getting old and this | | | | be consulted along the way. It is no good forcing the |
| comes to the fore particularly when we see older | | | | older person to go somewhere where they just do |
| relatives start to lose their ability to manage day to | | | | not want to go so allowing them some freedom to |
| day life on their own. Assisted living communities | | | | choose is the best option, particularly if they are |
| provide this kind of palliative facility so that the | | | | having memory lapses or something similar. Moving |
| individual can carry on almost as normal. Respite care, | | | | them out of the home environment at this stage will |
| on the other hand, is for those times when the | | | | only confuse them more and surely this is not the |
| family needs a break from the sick or infirm person. | | | | object of the exercise at all. |
| But where do family members find out what is on | | | | Many older people these days are far more active |
| offer for anyone who may need some help in the | | | | than we remember our own parents or grandparents |
| near future? Just guessing at the right kind of facility | | | | being. They very much take interest in their own |
| can be rather dangerous or even expensive since | | | | health issues these days and will often stay focused |
| they may not be exactly suited for that person and | | | | even up to the eighties or nineties. Indeed, some |
| their needs. There are many sad stories of facilities | | | | may not need to go into a facility at all. Rather, they |
| with a bad reputation taking advantage of the elderly | | | | would rather be a part of an active retirement facility |
| and charging the earth to do it too! | | | | where others in the same age range form sporting |
| But there are agencies who will take on the task of | | | | groups or activity groups which keeps them young at |
| finding just the right facility to take care of even the | | | | heart and safe from the vagaries of living on the |
| most difficult case. Because they know the business | | | | 'outside'. |
| so well, and because they are aware of all the kinds | | | | But for those people who are ready to be helped, or |
| of different facilities available, they can usually match | | | | for families who just cannot cope with the older |
| up the person to the place that is most suited quite | | | | person anymore, finding an agency to do all the leg |
| easily. | | | | work in finding somewhere safe for them to live is a |
| Of course, there is an assessment that will need to | | | | great idea. These agencies will have a wealth of |
| be done to work out what the needs of the | | | | knowledge at their disposal and will guide the family |
| individual are and how best they can be helped. If it is | | | | or individual to the right place to suit their needs for |
| the family that is suggesting that the older person | | | | the present and possibly for the future too. |
| take advantage of this service, then all of them will | | | | |