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Caregiving

Assisted Living vs. Nursing Home vs. Home Care

by Kylie Johnson
written by Kylie Johnson

How to choose the right living situation for your aging parent

You have to consider several factors (finances, health care needs and preferences) when choosing where your aging loved one should live. Although seniors have many different living options, most people choose an assisted living facility, a nursing home or in-home care.

Before making any decision about where your loved one should live, talk to them. Find out what they want their daily life to look like and what would make them happiest. Their ideal situation (retiring to Hawaii, for example) might not be feasible, but having an honest conversation about their preferences will reassure your loved one they still have control over their life. Research shows people are more likely to be happy with their surroundings in a care facility if they had some control in the decision to move there.

After talking to your loved one about their preferences, you can make a decision together based on the types and costs of the services your loved one needs.

Compare senior housing options

Choosing a place to live should be a two-sided conversation. First, consider the services your loved one needs and talk it over with them. You might disagree; for example, you might think mom needs someone to prepare meals for her because she’s started ordering a lot of takeout, but she might simply be tired of cooking after years of preparing meals for her family. Talking about needs helps ensure you don’t pay for unnecessary services.

Assisted living facilities

Types of assisted living services:

  • Help with self-care (bathing, grooming and dressing)
  • Meals
  • Transportation to doctor’s appointments
  • Housekeeping
  • Social activities
  • Fitness classes or programs
  • Emergency call system (similar to a medical alert system)
  • Medication monitoring
  • Minor health care services (checking and tracking vitals, assisting with oxygen tanks, prostheses or other self-administered medical devices)

 

Cost of assisted living: $40,000-$50,000 per year

Nursing homes

Types of nursing home services:

  • All services provided at an assisted living facility
  • Regular assessment by registered nurses (RNs) or doctors
  • Treatment for ongoing illnesses of all kinds
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Memory care (including architectural design, food choices and more) for dementia patients

 

Cost of nursing homes: $85,000-$95,000 per year

In-home care

Types of in-home care services:

  • Meal delivery
  • Help with self-care (bathing, grooming and dressing)
  • Medication monitoring
  • Minor health care services (checking and tracking vitals, assisting with oxygen tanks, prostheses or other self-administered medical devices)
  • Medical alert system
  • Periodic assessment by RNs
  • Housekeeping
  • Transportation
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Companionship

 

Cost of in-home care: $10-$30 per hour

Other considerations

The services your loved one needs and the cost of getting those services might be among the most complex factors in deciding between aging in place and moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home. However, you shouldn’t discount the following considerations:

Your capabilities
If you’ll be the primary caregiver, think about your capabilities. Ask yourself whether you can provide all the care they need, long term. It may be difficult to admit to yourself and your loved one that you can’t fully take care of them yourself, but doing so will be better for everyone in the long run.

If you and your loved one decide they should age in place or move in with you, remember to care for yourself too. Use respite care services when you need a break, join a support group for caregivers and consider talking to a counselor to get emotional support for yourself.

Location
Consider how far you live from your loved one and whether they’re willing to relocate to be close to you. If they live far away and don’t want to move to a new city, then a care facility might offer a safer environment simply because of the supervision it provides.

If your loved one lives near you and is moving to a facility, make sure distance won’t prevent you or other friends and relatives from visiting them regularly.

Community
Talk to your loved one about their social life. If they feel isolated or lonely, moving into a care facility might help them feel more connected since these facilities have regular social activities for residents.

If your loved one is highly involved with their existing community or social groups, discuss ways for them to remain involved, even if they move into a facility. Depending on the facility’s rules and your loved one’s health, they may be able to keep a car at the facility so they can drive themselves to social events. Depending on location, they could also use public transportation or a rideshare service to get around.

Centralized services
The more care your loved one needs, the more complicated their home care is for you to manage. For example, you may have to call separate providers for problems with housekeeping, meal services and healthcare. If all of these things were a problem while they were living in a care facility, you’d probably only have to contact one person. Having a centralized service may lessen the stress for both you and your loved ones.

If you and your loved one decide they should remain in their own home or live with you, consider hiring a geriatric care manager. These professionals can help you find qualified providers, understand health care costs and better address your loved one’s needs.

The future
It’s important to remember that as your loved one ages, they’ll need more advanced care. Your initial conversation on what arrangements they prefer is a good time to discuss long-term care if they get dementia or become otherwise incapable of making their own choices in the future.

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have senior apartments, assisted living facilities and nursing homes all on the same property. If your loved one expects to eventually need nursing home care, moving into a senior apartment at a CCRC might make more sense than renovating their home to age in place.

Bottom line

Figuring out where someone you love should live as they grow older can be emotionally draining, and not knowing what’s going to happen often feels scary. Both you and your loved one will feel better when you make a choice together and proceed with your plan.

Whether you decide they should move into a care facility, move in with you or age in place, there are plenty of service providers to help you through the process. Once you have these services in place, your loved one can focus on being more social and enjoying their life.

by Jami Barnett, Ph.D.
ConsumerAffairs Research Team

Jami Barnett, Ph.D., is an experienced researcher, and she believes consumers have a right to clear and honest information about products. In her role at ConsumerAffairs, she thoroughly researches products and companies by interviewing experts, reviewing research studies, reading governmental regulations and investigating customer service responses. Her work gives consumers the information they need to make smart purchasing decisions.

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Retirement Planning

4 Questions to Ask Before Buying Long-Term Care Insurance

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

My wife, Gina, and I are in year five of owning and running a home care agency, and we’ve experienced firsthand the pain of families struggling to pay for it.

After Gina and I helped managed care for my mother, Emily, as she transitioned into an assisted living facility near our home, we knew we couldn’t afford NOT to have a LTC plan. There are so many options, riders, qualifications and all of this was completely overwhelming.

Ultimately, the entire process took us about eighteen months, but we did finally choose a long-term care insurance policy that was right for us. Here are the 4 questions we’d encourage you to consider as you begin the research.

What is long-term care insurance and what do you need to know?

An excellent resource to get started is a Shopper’s Guide to Long Term Care Insurance. This is a great resource from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners that gives you all the basic information you need.

Do you need it and is it right for you?

After reading the guide, sit down with your spouse and discuss your feelings.

How much do you need?

This is a very tough question. A good financial planner would probably recommend looking at a two to three-year period of long-term care. If you plan to stay at home, personal care now costs an average of $25/hr. If you needed care 7 days a week for 8 hours a day over the course of 3 years, that’s $219,000. For one person. It’s a very realistic – and expensive – scenario.

What are your goals and what’s important to you?

Since we deliver services, we understand the costs of care and the various options and that helped us to hone in on our goals for long-term care:

  • Avoid being a burden on our children and/or counting on support from others.
  • Stay at home.
  • Get a policy with no ceiling or cap. Many policies pay based on what you put in and once funds are gone, they are gone.
  • We did not want a “use it or lose it” policy. If we didn’t use it, we wanted the full or remaining balance go to heirs.
  • Have minimal or no elimination period.
  • Find one with clear triggers to start care.
  • Offer a variety of services.

 

The most important advice we can give is to find a trustworthy financial advisor. One of the biggest things we learned is planning and choosing long-term insurance is a commitment, and it should fit into your overall retirement plan. You’ll find that many financial planners and advisors are also experienced with this type of planning, or they have relationships with some great long-term care insurance agents.

Searching for the right long-term care insurance plan was a long process, but we feel we’ve found one that works well for us.

-Guest writer, Tim Murray, President and Co-Founder, Aware Senior Care.

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Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population
Conditions & Treatments

Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Cases of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia have increased sharply in the US over the past several years. The reason why it is taken for granted: as the American population grows older, dementia becomes more prevalent. But Alzheimer’s and other dementias may be spreading faster than many people think. Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population
A new study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has found that cases of Alzheimer’s and dementia are projected to increase from 6 million cases in 2017 to 15 million cases by 2060. That’s an increase of 150%. Over the same period, America’s population is projected to grow from 323.1 million to 416.8 million. That’s an increase of just 29%.

If these projections hold true, this means that cases of dementia in America will increase at 5 times the rate of the US population across the next four decades.

So why is the dementia rate growing so much faster than the American population? An aging populace is the main reason — America’s senior population will more than double over the next 40 years. But this doesn’t completely explain the discrepancy. When you crunch the numbers, an aging population only explains 3 out of every 4 cases of dementia projected by the NIH study. No matter how you look at it, cases of dementia are spreading faster than they should be.

While nobody has a definitive answer, there are a few theories as to why Alzheimer’s and dementia seem to be spreading at faster-than-expected rates.

  • Medical advances in other areas may be extending lifespans, meaning more Americans are reaching the age where they develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
  • Changes in the typical American lifestyle — including changes to diet and exercise habit — may be putting more people at risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
  • Changes to home, work, and community environments may be exposing more Americans to environmental risk factors that increase dementia rates.
  • Another common explanation is that Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnosis practices have become more accurate in recent years. This could mean that cases of dementia aren’t actually rising — they’re just being accurately diagnosed more often. However, most modern studies go to great lengths to account for this possibility, and this theory wouldn’t explain the projections of the NIH study.

Preparing for Higher Rates of Alzheimer’s & Dementia

As important as it may be to know why cases of Alzheimer’s and dementia are spreading, it’s equally important that we know how to respond. Unfortunately, as a nation, we are underprepared for the spread of dementia in the coming decades.

Here’s how we can change that. First, we need to increase awareness and education. Most Americans have a limited understanding of Alzheimer’s, the different types of dementia, and age-related cognitive impairment more widely. We need more people to understand the risk these conditions present, along with how we can prevent, manage, and address their development.

Next, we need to put more resources into dementia treatment and management. This includes expanded research into Alzheimer’s prevention, treatment, and the search for a possible cure. It also includes advance planning for the care needs of those with different types of dementia. This means addressing America’s shortage of professional caregivers, increasing the availability of home dementia care and home Alzheimer’s care services, and encouraging families to plan ahead for the care needs of loved ones.

Finally, we need to do everything possible to defy these projections. After all, they’re just that: projections. Americans have the power to prove them wrong. Research has given us a number of proven ways to prevent, delay, and slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. If Americans — particularly those of us who know that we’re at risk of Alzheimer’s — can make adjustments to our diets, our exercise habits, and the spaces where we live and work, we can stop dementia from spreading so rapidly.
10 Dementia Warning Signs

Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US PopulationWhy is Dementia Rate Rising 5 Times as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5 Times as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5 Times as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia

Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US PopulationWhy is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US PopulationWhy is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US PopulationWhy is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population Why is Dementia Rate Rising 5X as Fast as US Population

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Aging

Find Senior Care on Limited Budget

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Recently, a reader asked, “If you can’t afford to live in a senior care facility, or have family to take care of you what other options does a person have when they can’t take care of yourself?”

For many seniors, they survive on Social Security from month to month. The retirement years is challenging and enjoying the golden years and living comfortably is only a dream. And once they retire, they struggle. They are in survival mode. Others, like the 10,000 Americans who turn 65 every day, are just now facing the reality.

When seeking care on the limited income of Social Security, there are a few options available for the personal help you need or for additional income to pay for care. Here are a few ways to make that happen.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If you are receiving Social Security alone, consider applying for SSI. This federal benefit is available to those 65 and older, the disabled and the blind who have limited income and resources.

The average monthly benefit for an individual is $710 (2013) and $1,066 for a couple. Some states add small supplement to these amounts.

Medicaid

In addition to Medicare, qualifying people 65 and older with limited resources can receive Medicaid. It provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient care, including costs that Medicare does not cover such as nursing home care and personal care services.

Medicaid Waivers Program

State Medicaid plans or state plan amendments often indicate what types of services are covered under Medicaid. Contact your state’s Medicaid office and ask them about LTSS coverage – long-term care coverage. To find contact information for your state’s Medicaid office, visit the State Resources Map at https://www.cms.gov/, click on your state, and click the Medicaid agency link.

The program allows individuals to have active roles in the services they receive. Self-directed personal assistance services allow participants to:

  • Direct types of care that they receive and understand but cannot do (e.g., a person with a physical disability may wish to direct his or her own exercise program)
  • Choose who will provide the care
  • Include their own preferences, choices, and abilities in the service plan

States can target this program to people who already receive services under 1915(c) waivers and may want to direct their own care. States can limit the number of people who self-direct their care and can decide whether this program will be statewide or limited to certain areas.

Medicaid also offers nursing home stays for seniors on a limited income. For more information, contact your local Area Agency on Aging, Department on Aging, or the Ombudsman office in your city or community.

Carol Marak, aging advocate, syndicated columnist, and editor at Seniorcare.com. She earned the Fundamentals of Gerontology Certificate from UC Davis, School of Gerontology.

Get on the waitlist for my Facebook subscription group and learn how to plan for aging well. Send an email to carol@seniorcare.com and say you’re interested in the group.

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Caregiving

10 Signs of Caregiver Stress

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

When you’re caring for someone else, and running your own household, your needs tend to fall to the bottom of the list. While this is a perfectly normal response, it isn’t the healthiest response. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so taking care of your needs is not selfish, it is critical. 10 Signs of Caregiver Stress

Easier said than done, I know. I am the worst at following this advice. I have been known to push myself to the point of illness to take care of everyone else’s needs. In fact, I was reviewing resumes for drivers while in the hospital after giving birth so that my clients would still have transportation after an employee quit. This isn’t me bragging about my superwoman abilities, this is me pointing out a major flaw. Because I push myself far past the breaking point, I deal with a lot of stress-related health issues. I am really trying to focus 2016 on making sure I care for myself, while caring for others and I encourage you to do the same.

These are the top 10 signs of caregiver stress and ways to relieve it. Join me in taking better care of yourself this year.

  1. Denial about your parent’s condition and the effect on the person who’s been diagnosed. For example, thinking, “I know mom is going to get better,” rather than addressing the condition. Knowledge is power. Research the condition and speak with your parent’s medical provider on what to expect and how you can manage the condition.
  2. Anger at the caree or others, anger that no cure exists and anger that people don’t understand what’s going on. For example, “I don’t have time to shop for my mom, why can’t she just do it herself?” If you are feeling angry or frustrated with your caree, you may need to take a step back. Enlist help from a sibling, neighbor, friend or community program. If your parent has dementia, consider an adult day care program a few days a week to give yourself some downtime. If your parent needs more help around the house than you are able to provide, consider hiring a caregiver or a college student to do some light housekeeping. It is normal to get frustrated with the situation and you deserve a break. Don’t feel like you can’t step away.
  3. Social withdrawal from friends and activities that once brought pleasure. Have you stopped participating in your book club or meeting your friends for brunch? This could be a sign of depression or a sign that you are overwhelmed. Reach out to your loved ones and let them know that you need support. If it is to the point where you just can’t bear to be around people, you may want to consider speaking with a therapist or clergy member.
  4. Anxiety about facing another day and what the future holds. Are you constantly thinking about what will happen when your parent needs more care than you can provide? Rather than thinking about all the what-ifs, make a list of your concerns and ways to overcome the challenges. Having a plan in place will help make the unknown less scary.
  5. Depression that begins to break your spirit and affects your ability to cope. If you feel like you don’t care anymore, you should consider talking to someone. Speak with a counselor, join a support group or schedule time with a friend to get away from the constant stressors.
  6. Exhaustion that makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks. If you are feeling like no matter how much you sleep, you don’t have the energy to get through the day, you need to take time for yourself to recover. Take a morning walk or set aside 10 minutes to meditate. Figure out what works for you to re-energize and work it into your daily routine. It doesn’t have to require a large time commitment.
  7. Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns. Do you have a constant to-do list running through your head or are you thinking of the what-ifs regarding your parent’s condition? I struggle with insomnia, so I am definitely not an expert on this one, and even when I wear myself out, I still have difficulty sleeping. Some things that have worked for me include making a to do list, reading a magazine before bed (if I try to read a book, I have a hard time putting it down), take a warm bath and stretch before bed.
  8. Irritability that lends to moodiness and triggers negative responses and reactions. Do you just want to be left alone and does everything everyone around you does annoy you? It probably isn’t them, it’s you. If you can, take some time for yourself to do something you love. Get out in nature, go to the library, go somewhere quiet where you won’t be bothered. If you are caring for someone who can’t be left alone, consider bringing in help for an hour every week or every other week so that you can have time to just think about your needs.
  9. Lack of concentration that makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks. Are you forgetting appointments or did you drive home and miss the off ramp? You may have too much on your plate. Take some time to think of how you can take things off your plate. I have some tips for caregivers in the sandwich generation that work for anyone, as well as caregiver shortcuts that could help.
  10. Health problems that begin to take their toll, both mentally and physically. Sadly, I am an expert at this one. Stress can cause major health issues from headaches to diabetes. Finding ways to reduce your stress is critical to living a long, healthy life. Find things that reduce stress for you – exercise, laugh more, knit, color, spend time with your friends. Whatever it is that helps you reduce your stress levels, make sure that you find ways to squeeze it into your day. Your health depends on it. If you are having a tough time coming up with stress relievers, check out my post on finding joy and 8 things happy people do for some ideas.

Caregiving can sometimes be a thankless job that comes with time constraints that make it difficult to practice self-care. Don’t let yourself fall to the bottom of the to do list. How can you incorporate stress relief into your life?

 

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Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?
Caregiving

Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

When given the option between convalescing at home and in a nursing home, most people prefer to remain at home and age in place. Besides the familiarity, home is the place where people have lived their lives and created memories with friends and family. Even the smallest house is often viewed by the senior as a comfortable setting that is well-suited for their personal belongings, pets and visitors. Many seniors create a support network of friends and family close to home, and aging in place makes it easier for beneficial bonds to remain strong. The positive emotional bond people have often helps speed their recovery, as long as they receive the therapeutic and support services they require. Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?
Both nursing homes and home care agencies provide the resources and services to increase comfort and assist recovery. They both have the common goal of helping your loved one with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and promoting healthy longevity.

Nursing Home Care

Nursing homes provide around-the-clock medical and non-medical care to a population that is primarily elderly or disabled. Facilities are staffed with aides, nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs), along with others who provide emotional support, enrichment activities, physical and occupational therapy and pharmacy services. All nursing homes have immediate access to physicians though few have a physician in-house, around the clock. They have full-time kitchens and housekeeping staff, and some provide transportation with vans or buses. Institutional nursing homes normally have all their services under one roof or a short distance away. In-house social activities are planned for residents in all licensed nursing facilities. Many also have libraries, recreation areas and entertainment scheduled for holidays or special occasions.

Home Care

Licensed skilled nursing agencies care for home-bound individuals. They provide services ranging from companionship and cleaning to skilled nursing care. Visits to the home can be scheduled on an hourly basis, daily or overnight, as the need and budget allow. Most home care agencies also work to maintain consistent care and encourage bonding by scheduling the same nurses or caregivers with the same seniors whenever possible. Some seniors utilize these services immediately after discharge from the hospital, and many continue to access services on a longer-term basis once rehabilitation is complete. Families also benefit from homecare as it provides them with professional assistance called respite care so they can spend time away from their loved ones with confidence knowing the senior is in expert hands.

Final Considerations

Choosing between a nursing home and home care services can be a matter of physical needs or personal preference. The goal of each is to better the patient’s comfort level, and when possible, achieve independent living. Which you choose for yourself or a loved one needs to be thought through carefully based on physical and emotional needs as well as both short term and long term goals.

By Christine Day – While Christine’s main passion is nursing, on her off days she enjoys writing for Salus Homecare. Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?

Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?

Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference? Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference? Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference? Home Care vs. Nursing Homes: What’s the Difference?

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Caregiver helping senior woman
Seniors & Covid

As States Re-Open, Visitors to Nursing Homes Increase but Still Well Below Average

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

For seniors looking into housing options and nursing homes, some of the most commonly asked questions center around quality of life. Is the staff courteous and friendly? Is it kept clean and is the food good? And of course — can you have visitors anytime?

The very nature of nursing homes is people interacting with one another. Not only do seniors enjoy doing social activities together, some nursing homes are set up as households – small groups of residents living under the same roof with the same staff sharing meals and activities.

But what was once a hallmark of senior living – be it a visit from a family member or friend – is now a risk. As coronavirus deaths began to surge in April, nursing homes across the country instituted policies barring visitors, a sudden blow for the more than one million Americans living in such places.

Our team at SeniorLiving.org decided to examine this difficult reality of not being able to visit loved ones. Industry-leading location-data company X-Mode supplied us with de-identified visit data to nursing homes across the country from a sample of tens of millions of de-identified users so we could study changes in patterns of people visiting nursing homes.

We chose the weekends of March 8th, April 12th, and June 28th to represent visitation patterns prior to the economic shutdown, in the midst of the shutdown, and as the economy has been mostly reopened with social distancing.

The data clearly shows that across the country, people were very serious about limiting their in-person contact with those in nursing homes during the very early stages of the pandemic.

How Did Nursing Home Visits Change?

The first research period, the weekend of March 8th, was before the first lockdowns began. States and cities began putting stay-home orders in place, generally starting in late March, which halted many aspects of daily life.

Most of these restrictions lasted through the end of April, though a handful extended into May. In addition to orders to stay home unless travel was necessary, nursing homes began tightly restricting visitors. For many, that meant cutting off visits entirely.

Comparing the weekends of March 8th and April 12th, our data shows a huge drop in visits to nursing homes nationally, as they fell by more than half (53 percent, to be exact). This total “traffic” to nursing homes was inclusive of staff, vendors and visitors. In every state where adequate data was available, the number of people visiting nursing homes fell between March and April.

Between the weekends of April 12th and June 28th, visits to nursing homes rebounded significantly, although the average number of visitors was still down by 34 percent. By June, states had begun phasing in a return to normal economic function, though there was a patchwork of what was open and what was closed. Our data shows people definitely took advantage of relaxed restrictions to visit nursing homes.

Nursing Home Visits by State

Every state where data was available had a double-digit decline in the number of nursing home visits between March and April. The biggest decline was in Alabama, where visits fell by nearly two-thirds, while Georgia was a close second.

Conversely, all states except California saw nursing home visits rise between April and June. California continued to see visitors decline and had the biggest drop in visits during this period. Overall, between March and June, visits to California nursing homes fell by a total of 71 percent.

 

As the economy reopens and more people are allowed into nursing homes (albeit with stronger protocols), this warrants continued studying, and more importantly, concerted efforts to help seniors connect in meaningful ways with their loved ones.

By Jeff Hoyt, editor-in-chief at SeniorLiving.org

Jeff Hoyt is editor-in-chief at SeniorLiving.org, a comprehensive directory of living options. SeniorLiving’s mission is to help older Americans age with ease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care
Caregiving

What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Moving away from home and into a care facility can be a jarring experience for seniors. While moving to an assisted living facility or a nursing home is sometimes the only option, studies* have found that these moves can have a damaging effect on the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of seniors. What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care
It’s little surprise then that nearly 90% of seniors reported to the AARP* that they wished to age-in-place for as long as possible. That’s true even in situations where seniors require professional in-home care to live at home safely and comfortable. In-home care providers like Visiting Angels now offer specialized senior care programs that give seniors the options they need to age in place.
If you spend time talking with seniors, you’ll find common concerns about things they’ll miss if they need to make the move to institutional care. Below, we’ve compiled 16 things about home that seniors miss most when they relocate to a care facility. What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

Home Itself

  1. Favorite Possessions. Moving to a care facility requires serious downsizing. While seniors’ most cherished items usually make the trip, there simply isn’t room for all of the souvenirs, memories, and personal items that many seniors wish to bring with them.
  2. Comfortable Furniture. Some care facilities allow residents to bring furniture with them. Some don’t. And even among those that do, space is limited.
  3. Space and Privacy. Some care facilities offer less than 100 square feet of living space per person. Even those with relatively spacious living areas can feel claustrophobic after decades in larger living quarters.
  4. Personalized Décor. Your mom or dad has made home feel like home with décor that fits their tastes and personality. Care facilities usually give off a sterile, impersonal feel because they need a design that works for everyone.
  5. Gardens and Yard Space. It can be difficult to no longer have a patch of outdoor space to call their own. This can be particularly troubling for seniors with green thumbs.
  6. Climate Control. In nursing homes and assisted living facilities, climate control is often in the hands of staff — not seniors — leaving many residents feeling overly warm or chilly.
  7. The “Feel” of Home. After living in the same home for many years, nowhere else “feels” like home. This feeling can be especially acute in care facilities, where occupants have few spaces that they can truly call their own.

Neighborhood & Community

  1. Favorite Shops and Restaurants. Seniors don’t just lose the familiarity of home when they move to facility care. They also lose the neighborhood stores, restaurants, and coffee shops they’ve grown to love over the years.
  2. Parks and Public Spaces. Moving to a care facility often means losing access to favorite outdoor spaces, making it hard for seniors to enjoy the fresh area.
  3. Friends and Neighbors. One of the hardest parts about moving is saying goodbye to the friends and neighbors that made their neighborhood feel like a community.
  4. Local Community. Relocating to a care facility in a different town or state dislocates seniors from the local community. Seniors find themselves miles away from clubs, groups, and religious communities they’ve participated in for years.
  5. A Familiar Space. When you’ve lived in the same neighborhood for long enough, the trees, streets, and sidewalks feel as much a part of “home” as your living room or bedroom.

Personal Routines

  1. Sleeping Patterns. In a care facility, it can be tough for older adults to maintain the sleep schedule they prefer. Lights-out rules may be in place, nurses and other residents can disrupt sleep, and the unfamiliar space can make it hard to get shut-eye at night.
  2. Eating Habits. Moving to a care facility can make it difficult for seniors to eat the foods they enjoy, or eat meals at the times when they want to eat them.
  3. Favorite Activities. It can be hard for seniors to enjoy favorite hobbies and activities within a care facility environment, particularly those that require space or specialized equipment.

Independence & Control

  1. One of the most unsettling aspects of moving to a nursing home or assisted living facility can be the lack of independence. Even if seniors need help from family or professional caregivers to age in place, the fact that they still live at home allows them to retain a sense of independence and self-sufficiency. Often, it’s this sense of independent is the thing that seniors miss most after moving out of their home and into a care facility.

Looking to help your mom or dad age in place? Visiting Angels offers free, in-home assessments to help seniors and their families decide if in-home senior care is right for them. Schedule your assessment today by calling 800-365-4189 or by getting in touch with your local Visiting Angels office.
*Sources: https://press.aarp.org/2014-04-25-New-AARP-Report-Outlines-What-Older-Americans-Want-In-Their-Communities-How-Many-Are-Thinking-of-Moving
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7148624
http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2757&context=utk_graddiss
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12558718

What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

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Senior man looking at doctor adjusting bed while sitting on wheelchair

Diabetic Wound Management in Long-Term Care

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Caring for a wound is important for people of any age, but for diabetics, and especially seniors it’s crucial. Older patients living in long term care facilities are often not physically active, and some are completely bed bound. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), long term care facilities are host to a larger number of seniors dealing with diabetes.

For these patients, the risk for developing pressure ulcers or bed sores, and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is much higher than the general public. Since many are not up and moving around regularly, blood flow is decreased. Remaining prone or sitting in one position too long can open the door to skin irritations which could lead to infection.

During this time of uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus and social distancing, many may wonder about the care they or their loved ones will receive from healthcare professionals at a long-term care facility. When regular checks are done, it’s difficult if not impossible to maintain social distancing. Top healthcare providers have had to adapt to this new threat and are making great strides in this area of wound management.

Who’s at Risk

Wound care is considered for those who have developed a wound that hasn’t begun to heal within two weeks or is not completely healed at the six-week mark. For diabetics, it’s difficult to manage wounds as high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) could lead to nerve damage and a loss of feeling.

Chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers (bed sores) and diabetic foot ulcers are quite common in long term care facilities according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website. These types of facilities tend to see higher numbers of patients with type 2 diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can result in an impaired healing processes.

The rise in occurrence can be attributed to wounds such as venous leg ulcers, arterial insufficiency, DFLs and pressure ulcers, as well as the fact that the numbers are on the rise for seniors requiring surgery. This puts them at higher risk for infection and wound healing complications.

Many residents have compromised immune systems, which in the current time of social distancing makes them at high risk for developing the coronavirus. These patients have a higher likelihood of developing serious complications. Too much stress can also play a part in the body’s ability to heal. Changes in facilities, new care team members, and the worries about the pandemic can put added stress on older patients.

Careful Evaluation

The complication of potential wounds makes careful patient evaluation a requirement. Skin assessments and risk evaluation for those who are at risk of developing pressure ulcers is crucial, especially when a patient changes facility.

The NCBI suggests evaluating patients on the following Braden Scale criteria:

  • Sensory – how well they communicate sensory input and sensation level
  • Moisture – the degree of moisture the skin is exposed to
  • Activity – how active the patient can be considering the degree of allowable mobility
  • Mobility – how easily they able to change positions
  • Nutrition – patients normal diet intake
  • Friction or shear – how the patient moves

 

Senior patients must be observed regularly, even while maintaining safety precautions and proper distancing. Healthcare professionals are required to answer several short questions, pass a temperature check, and are expected to follow CDC and hospital recommendations for safety and sanitization during these unprecedented times.

Secondary complications can lead to a slow down in the ability to heal. Long term care facility staff need to be aware of any additional complications so they can properly evaluate and treat these issues. By working to control secondary issues, they can increase the chances of timely healing of wounds.

Delivery of Care

Reducing complications is key to wound healing and avoiding infection while battling the risk of the coronavirus. By treating the conditions of both diabetes and wound care, seniors will have a higher chance of healing. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), diet is a key component for controlling diabetes. If left uncontrolled, diabetes could hinder healing.

Healthcare professions should take into consideration a patient’s nutritional and fitness needs when evaluating them. Ensure a proper diet is being followed and caloric intake is monitored. While many long-term care facility residents are unable to exercise, physical therapy can help to keep the body moving and promote healing. Through proper care and consideration, wound care can be managed, and diabetes can be controlled in a long term care setting.

 

Author: Tracy Rairigh is a medical, business, and technical writer with a Writing in the Sciences Certificate from the University of Stanford Medical. With over 150 published articles in wound care, health and wellness and a degree in Engineering, she has a vast array of knowledge to pull from.

 

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