It can be difficult for both the adult child and the senior parent when living alone is no longer an option. The parent feels like they lose their independence and become a burden on their family. The child feels responsible for the around the clock care for their parent. They are concerned for their safety and deciding on the best and safest option for living assistance can be difficult. There are many options available to provide the additional assistance that your senior parent needs. A nursing home can provide around the clock care in a medical type setting. An assisted living provides more independence, but still has medical and emergency staff on duty. Local in home care can allow your parent to remain at home, while receiving scheduled assistance in their home. The best choice is something that needs to be decided between the parent and the adult children. There are also ways to make whatever decision you make, comfortable and acceptable.
According to Age Wave, most people vastly underestimate the likelihood they will need long term care. While 37% of people age 50 and over believe they may need long term care in the future, the reality is that twice as many eventually will (70%). The first step in finding a comfortable living option is preparation. Seniors need to be realistic at the possibility of requiring care when they get older. They should express their wishes early on and if possible, set up arrangement, financially and administratively prior to needing it. This will really reduce the burden for the adult children of the family. The parent can also research local nursing homes, assisted living homes and a local in home care to figure out what they like and dislike about each one.
When the financial aspect of an assisted living home or local in home care is previously planned for, it can really help out the situation for the adult children. They are often left with the financial burden of caring for their parents, putting a struggle onto their own families. It is always a good idea to prepare and learn of different financial options, prior to needing the assistance. 24 hour care homes and nursing homes are generally more expensive than in home care, something that should be considered. According to recent data provided by John Hancock Financial, the average annual cost of care in the U.S. for a private room in a nursing home is $85,775 and $75,555 for a semi private room, whereas home health care average $37,440 annually. In home care allows the senior to live in their own home, while hiring assistance staff at scheduled hours of the day. It may even be possible to have around the clock geriatric care in an in home care setting.
Assisted living can also be made more comfortable by personalizing the experience. Each senior who needs additional assistance will need assistance with different tasks. It is important to find an assisted living home or local in home care that can cater to those specific needs. An example would be Alzheimer?s care. The home care service or an Alzheimer?s care facility will need to provide engaging activities and exercises to assist seniors with their Alzheimer?s. Additionally, things like security and 24 hour assistance are necessary, in addition to a good medical care department. Alzheimer?s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Every year, adult children are left with the difficult decision of how to provide their aging parents with the additional assistance they require. The entire situation can be stressful and emotional for both the adult children and the senior parents. However, there are steps that can be taken to prepare and to become comfortable with whatever living situation is decided on. Seniors are left with many options, including full care nursing homes, partially independent assisted living homes and in home care.
