Meticulousness with Long Term Care Resources
Long term care (LTC) is not as simple as undergoing treatment with hopes of getting better because one never knows if he’ll ever be able to function normally again; or if qualifying for LTC is a totally new chapter in his life which he has to embrace. So if you are currently planning your future healthcare, or perhaps helping your parents work out theirs, check out the best long term care resources instead of the mediocre ones.
Most people want to stay home and just have a home health aide or skilled nurse come in on a daily basis to provide them with assistance in the activities of daily living (ADL) or to monitor their health and ensure it remains stable.
If your family happens to be among this population that prefers to receive in-home care rather than be put in an assisted living facility or a nursing home, you can look up home care agencies in your area of residence or wherever you intend to grow old.
You’ll find numerous home care agencies that boast licensed caregivers who specialize in custodial care and a reliable staff to provide homemaker services. You are even allowed to meet and interview a potential caregiver before hiring her or him. As a matter of fact, this is strongly encouraged so that patient and caregiver will get along smoothly.
On the other hand, if you are open to the idea of being admitted into a nursing home then you should seriously investigate the nursing homes in your area to avoid getting into a facility that does not have much to offer.
Long Term Care Resources
It’s still fresh in the minds of many people, those reports about elderly abuse in nursing homes. However, this thing does not happen everywhere. Well, to be certain it does not happen to you or to your parents or spouse, do your homework.
How many beds does it have? Are they new or rusty? What about the food that it serves? How often does it change the menu? Do they consider the diet restrictions of their patients?
These are just some questions that you should consider for the management of a nursing home. Take note of the way your questions are treated. If the manager or head of the facility exudes transparency while responding to your questions then well and good but if you get nothing but vague answers there is no point in staying any longer.
It is also important for nursing homes to have special care units specifically for people with Alzheimer’s as there’s a big number of elderly folks right now who are suffering from this disease. People with dementia require a higher level of skilled nursing care. They are so unlike individuals who cannot eat, bathe, dress up, or walk without assistance, but who can think and reason out.
Assisted living facilities are similar to nursing homes except that these do not provide 24-hour monitoring. Still, residents should be comfortable and receive the best care from their caregivers. You will find a wide array of long term care resources online but you can also consult a family member, a close friend or your insurance agent so you have more good choices.