| Though we all know the day will come when we | | | | 1) Retirement homes are for those who are alert and |
| need to provide elder care for our elderly relatives, | | | | independently ambulatory. Services include |
| most of us have unanswered questions and are | | | | housekeeping, meals, laundry, activities, |
| completely unprepared for it. What's the difference | | | | entertainment, transportation and companionship. |
| between an assisted living facility and a retirement | | | | (Month-to-month fees) |
| home? Are there facilities that specialize in Alzheimer | | | | 2) Assisted living facilities are for those who are |
| care and dementia care? How can I know when the | | | | either ambulatory or non-ambulatory. They offer the |
| time is right and what is available for my parent's or | | | | same services as provided in retirement homes, as |
| senior family members as I look for senior care | | | | well as assistance with bathing, dressing, medication |
| facilities that are licensed, appropriate and | | | | dispensing and incontinence care. Some facilities have |
| trustworthy? | | | | a memory loss section of the facility which can care |
| How to care for aging parents or family members | | | | for residence diagnosed with Alzheimer's or Dementia. |
| isn't something that is taught in school or commonly | | | | 3) Board and Care RCEE (Residential Care Facilities |
| discussed in the open. Many families feel it is their | | | | for the Elderly) services include assistance with |
| obligation to care for a loved one at home. With | | | | bathing, dressing, medication dispensing, incontinence |
| many excellent options available to seniors, and | | | | care, walking, feeding, grooming, meals, |
| education to families, the consideration to place a | | | | housekeeping, laundry and other daily activities of |
| family member into a facility is important. They can | | | | daily living. As well as seniors who suffer from |
| be around their peers, be with professionals who can | | | | memory loss associated with Dementia, Alzheimer's, |
| give the care necessary as well as enjoy a social, | | | | Parkinson's disease, or heart disease and the |
| active lifestyle. This allows the family to have quality | | | | after-effects of stroke. |
| time during visits and changes the outlook of the | | | | 4) Skilled Nursing facilities are for those who need |
| future of seniors. | | | | long-term care after rehabilitation after an illness or |
| Being prepared and knowledgeable about options is | | | | injury, as well as those who have severe confusion |
| very important should an event occur that would | | | | associated with Alzheimer's disease or end stages of |
| cause you to need immediate placement in a facility. | | | | life. These facilities can care for a patient that is being |
| However, you owe it to them and to yourself to be | | | | tube-fed, may be catheterized, may require invasive |
| as prepared as possible when the time comes that | | | | medical procedures or is completely bedridden. |
| your parents can no longer do everything for | | | | 5) Alzheimer's and dementia facilities are for seniors |
| themselves. | | | | who are living with the long term affects of the |
| As most children of aging parents do, you'll probably | | | | disease, who wander, who need more care in a safe |
| start out caring for them yourself, or perhaps you | | | | and secured environment. These are secured facilities |
| already are. If you live close by and it doesn't | | | | that offer all the same basic daily needs of other |
| jeopardize the time you need to spend taking care | | | | care facilities with staffing that understands and is |
| of your own family needs - both personally and | | | | trained to the special needs of the residents. |
| professionally - making good choices will give you | | | | Knowing what type of facility is appropriate for your |
| piece of mind. | | | | aging parents is educating yourself in preparation for |
| There comes a day for most when it's clear that our | | | | the current needs or the future. This is a difficult |
| aging parents need the 24-hour attention that only a | | | | time for all family members, very painful, confusing, |
| professional care facility can provide. | | | | and trying at times. With the right tools, you are not |
| When considering the ideal care facility, you have five | | | | alone; you have assistance available to you. You need |
| options. The fin al decision is ultimately yours, based | | | | not make that decision alone. |
| on the care needs of your parents: | | | | |