Home care and assisted living services are helpful for seniors who need assistance in their daily lives. Making a choice between the two for a parent or an elderly loved one is hard for families, especially when health complications are forcing the issue. Adult children want to respect the wishes of their parents, but sometimes weighing the pros and cons shows them that some things in life are inevitable.
The Importance of Independence
Independence is important to everyone, and seniors who have retired are taking a new step toward complete independence. They aren’t restricted by work hours and decide what to do each day on their own. There isn’t an alarm that disturbs their sleep early in the morning, and if they have the resources to do so, the seniors travel wherever they choose.
Declining cognitive function throws a wrench in this new independence, and the person must decide to hire a nurse to stay with them or move into assisted living in Oceanside, CA. The biggest worry with assisted living is how much it could change their routines and give someone else control over their lives. The honest approach to the decision is to consider how these new health changes affect those around them and what is the safest choice for everyone involved.
Freedom to Go Where They Want
Most retired seniors still have the ability to drive themselves wherever they want to go. But, declining health might take these choices away from them. An at-home nurse is helpful for seniors who cannot drive themselves to doctor’s appointments. However, the scope of transportation services for clients is limited to doctor’s appointments or maybe the grocery store.
Home care services are available through six- to eight-hour shifts, and most of these nurses are there just to prepare meals, give the client their medication, and keep track of daily symptoms. Transportation requirements are addressed better through assisted living, and the staff can take the residents to places they really want to visit.
Getting Health Services Discreetly
Retired seniors want to maintain their privacy and dignity, and they may not want other people to know about their current health status. Privacy is one of the concerns seniors have when making this decision between home care and assisted living.
An at-home nurse can come and go from their home discreetly, but once they move into assisted living, other people will know or speculate about why a nurse is needed. If they need limited health services such as memory care, it’s possible to remain in their home, but once 24-hour care is needed, assisted living must be considered.
24/7 Care For Alzheimer’s Disease
A diagnosis of dementia happens after the person has exhibited serious cognitive decline. Earlier stages may allow a person to continue to live on their own, but once more prominent symptoms, such as disorientation, confusion, and wandering emerge, the senior needs at-home care or the advantages offered by moving to a senior community. A nurse trained to care for a client with dementia is the best choice, but to get these services in the home, there is a higher cost.
Friendships Vs. Daily Companions
Socialization is necessary for the health and well-being of the elderly, and isolated seniors are more likely to die prematurely according to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Home care gives the senior a private nurse who stays in the home with them, and there are often additional nurses hired to provide 24-hour care for these elderly individuals. While the nurses offer companionship, it’s not the same as living in a community around other seniors and making new friends. The senior remains in their home, and if no one else comes to visit, they aren’t socializing enough to prevent loneliness and depression.
Visits From the Family
Quality of life and healthy relationships are critical to a senior’s well-being. Familial relationships are strained if a family member is the senior’s caregiver. The stress and psychological impact of issues such as Alzheimer’s disease create negative memories of the loved one. For some, the relationships will never be the same again.
Home care provides adequate care for a parent, but if the adult children must provide supplemental care, this can damage their relationship with the parent. By moving into a community, the family avoids visits when their loved one is not lucid.
A Great Community for Seniors
At Ocean Hills Senior Living, we offer answers about assisted living and explain our efforts to keep residents as independent as possible. Our community gives residents a welcoming environment and allows them to create lasting bonds with others. Need to make decisions about an elderly loved one? Stop by and visit with us today.