As a senior citizen, you may find yourself searching for a care program that can give you or your loved one some extra help, but are still uncertain which level of care is right. To help eliminate confusion, it is important to know the differences between the major types of care facilities for elderly people and have information regarding the services they provide. On that note, we will be discussing the differences between Homecare, Assisted Living Communities and Nursing Homes so that you will be able to make an informed decision on which type of care is or will be most beneficial.
Home Health Care is a way to dip your toe in the water, so to speak, if you need care and assistance but would prefer not to move-in to an assisted-living facility or nursing home. As the name suggests, Home Health Care is provided in your residence by licensed, or even unlicensed, workers or family members. Usually, you will be required to pay for home health care yourself, but Medicare and Medicaid may reimburse certain types of “medically necessary” services if you are eligible and qualify. Home Health Care professionals can assist you in a variety of everyday activities, including but not limited to: shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, bathing, personal grooming and pet care.
Assisted Living Communities are designed for senior citizens who do not require an intensive level of care, as is provided in nursing homes, but are still unable to live independently. In these communities, residents generally live in private apartments and are offered meals that are provided in a central dining room. In places such as these, residents are able to receive assistance, as needed, with matters such as: taking medications, housekeeping and a variety of other everyday activities. Most of these facilities are paid for privately, although some allow Medicaid to cover a portion of the costs.
Nursing Homes provide constant skilled care for seniors who require higher levels of assistance. Licensed nurses work in these facilities and provide their services to residents twenty-four hours a day. A lot of nursing homes will provide short-term services for individuals that need assistance recovering from a severe injury or illness as well. The long-term residents, however, usually have complex medical conditions or need around-the-clock care due to disorders that are physically or mentally debilitating. Nursing homes may be the right choice if an individual has a condition such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia, or if they have any illness that renders them incapable of completing everyday activities.
