IS IT TIME TO PUT MOM IN A NURSING HOME?

NOT SO FAST! THERE ARE PLENTY OF long-term care OPTIONS IN BETWEEN.

When people think of eldercare, the first thing that comes to mind is nursing homes. However, there are other long-term care options available and they exist on a continuum depending on the older adult’s functional needs.

What do I mean by long-term care? This term refers to services provided to individuals who are unable to carry out their activities of daily living by themselves. Activities of daily living (ADLs) include bathing, dressing, feeding, and transferring to and from the bathroom. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) include doing laundry, managing finances, and transportation.

Long-term care falls into three major categories: home health care, community-based care, and facility-based care. The first two categories are for higher-functioning older adults and allow them to “age in place,” meaning stay living in their own homes or a loved one’s home. As you may have guessed, nursing homes are a form of facility-based care and should ideally be reserved for situations in which the older adult needs round-the-clock care.

If you are concerned about the increasing functional needs of an older adult in your life, home health care or community-based care may help delay nursing home placement; doing so may save your family money and help your loved one maintain their current level of functioning for longer.

Home health care options include homecare services to help with housekeeping, personal care services to help with personal hygiene, and skilled nursing for older adults with a specific medical condition (e.g., cardiovascular disease). You as a caregiver can also help your loved one live in their home for longer by assisting them with errands, transportation, and housework.

Community-based care includes services that allow older adults to age in place, such as home delivered meals, adult day centers, and senior centers. Caregivers such as yourself who are juggling jobs, childcare, and self-care may benefit from adult day centers, which are places you can bring your loved one to receive the care they need while you attend to your other obligations. Senior centers may also benefit you as a caregiver because they provide your loved one with meals, activities, and social services that can keep them living independently for longer.

If your loved one’s functional needs are becoming unmanageable for you as a caregiver, it may be time to look into facility-based care options, such as nursing homes and assisted living. However, facility-based care is extremely costly and premature placement into these settings can cause an older adult to lose their ability to care for themselves sooner than would otherwise be the case. 

Want more information? I’m here for you! Let me guide you on your caregiving journey.

Book your free 15 minute consultation with Michelle Paggi, Ph.D.