Key Differences Between Assisted Living and Nursing Homes
There may come a time in life when you find yourself in the challenging position of having to discuss the future living arrangements of your elderly parents or loved ones. This can no doubt be a difficult situation, but it is important to remember that in conversing sensitively, you can start to develop a plan that aims to provide the best level of care and support for the ones you care about.
If you find yourself standing at what appears to be the foot of a steep incline when you first attempt to address the topic, you may want to remember that the process does not have to be one of great turmoil. It might be beneficial to conceptualize the matter in terms of a new journey, and one that provides a wealth of happiness and mutual sustainability.
Here are some of the key differences and points to consider regarding the subject of assisted living and nursing homes.
Main Differences
Both assisted living and nursing home facilities strive to provide the elderly with the support that they need throughout their daily life, directly accounting for the needs of the individual.
One of the main differences between the two is the type and level of healthcare support provided. For example, a nursing home usually offers medical assistance to the elderly who require day-and-night care and attention. In contrast, traditionally, an assisted living facility provides its occupants with help in their daily activities in a domestic style environment.
Assisted living can provide an option for those who cannot operate comfortably and efficiently within their current home environment without some extra help, yet they still want to participate in regular active interests.
A nursing home can be beneficial for people who require consistent care, perhaps due to a long-standing and debilitating medical condition. Assisted living may be the option for those who require a lower level of medical care throughout their everyday ongoings.
Furthermore, assisted living options may be perfect for people who want the chance to socialize in a community-based setting, whilst receiving help to complete certain tasks should the situation necessitate it.
Based on a few of the key differences, it might help to think about what services your loved one might require in the first instance, such as:
? How much care might they need on a daily basis?
? What kind of community might they want to be a part of?
? Which options are available based on geographical preference?
? Which type of facility would best suit their lifestyle requirements?
In order to gain some insight into how an excellent facility operates, you may want to check out the excellent services available at Calabasas senior living.
How Should You Start the Conversation?
Even the very nature of starting the conversation can be riddled with difficult emotions and subjects to deal with. It can be important to remember that ultimately, the happiness and wellbeing of your loved one are the points that are essentially being discussed.
Keeping an open mind and making sure you are prepared to do some extensive research can help you stay positive when addressing the process. Talking about your loved one?s future living situation can be an incredibly personal topic, so remembering to practice sensitivity and empathy is a great way to start the ball rolling.
When that ball does, in fact, get rolling, it might be worth actively seeking out chances to talk about it, because letting the process slip form your thoughts due to difficult questions may be harmful in the long-term and end up slowing everything down.
Moreover, it can be useful to note that in light of the potentially difficult questions you may face down the line, arguments may be somewhat inevitable. Practicing patience and seeking the counsel of friends can go some way towards eliminating potential feelings of stress and discomfort.
How to Decide on Which Direction to Take
If your elderly loved one does not require constant medical care at this current time, it might be worth bearing in mind that they can transition from assisted living to a nursing home should the need arise at some point.
You may find it beneficial for your loved ones interests to sit down and talk about what kind of assistance they might need in regards to their current daily routines. Talking about these needs and outlining transitional options to homes with a greater level of skilled nursing professionals can help alleviate feelings of anxiety should the time finally come to make a move.
Preparing for the Future
Once you start to look for viable options, you may uncover a myriad of variable factors when making the decision. For example, how easy is it for friends and family to visit due to locational aspects, or how does your loved one feel about the general atmosphere?
Due to the cost factor of assisted living and nursing homes, (the latter being generally more expensive) it may be a good idea to start preparing for the eventual move as soon as is reasonably viable. You may want to help out and do this by:
Having a Garage/Yard Sale ?
This can be a great way of making money for items that are no longer needed, but bear in mind which possessions may have great sentimental value.
Sell the house
Selling the house before your elderly loved one decides to move into assisted care is not uncommon and it might be worth it to help pay for the cost of living should you need some extra money.
Make a realistic timeframe in which to work with
Moving out is undoubtedly a massive step for many people, especially for the elderly who have might have accumulated a vast number of possessions throughout their stay in their current residence. Starting small and deciding on what and what not to keep is a good way of tackling the project one step at a time.
With the right amount of your dedication, research, and support, you might find that your loved one can begin an exciting new chapter in their lives.
