Understanding all of the senior living options available to your elderly family member these days might feel impossible. There are a lot more choices than there used to be, and each choice offers something slightly different in terms of support and care.
Aging in Place
Lots of aging adults want to remain in their own homes for as long as is possible. For many seniors, that means until it’s absolutely necessary to make a change. If your elderly family member’s home, or even your home, are conducive to this goal, this can be a real possibility for her.
Independent Senior Living and Assisted Living
There are slight differences between independent senior living and assisted living facilities. Independent senior living is designed for people who are handling activities of daily living on their own still and who truly are still very independent. Assisted living facilities are more for people who need a little bit of increased assistance with certain ADLs ( Activities of daily living ,) and who might need more help in the future.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Continuing care retirement communities offer a range of different options for care, depending on what your senior might need. They typically have different sections for independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care. This is really an important option if your elderly family member already knows that she wants to stay in one place for as long as possible.
Memory Care and Nursing Home Care
Memory care and nursing home care might seem the same on the surface, but there are slight differences between the two. Memory care is a special living situation for someone who has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and is dealing with the cognitive impacts of these types of illnesses. Nursing home care offers around the clock nursing care for seniors who are unable to take care of themselves.
Hospice and Palliative Care
At the end of her life, your senior may opt for hospice or palliative care. This type of care can be offered in a facility or in your senior’s home if she has aged in place to this point. The focus of both hospice and palliative care is to maintain as high a quality of life for your senior as possible.
It helps if you already know what your elderly family member wants in terms of senior living options. If she’s still able to talk about her preferences, don’t put off the conversation for much longer.
