What Are the Pros & Cons of Nursing Homes?
As your elderly loved one ages and their health further deteriorates, you find yourself having limited options for their care.
Even thinking about putting them in a nursing home or an assisted living facility may be a source of frustration and put you in a difficult situation where you are riddled with feelings of guilt and anxiety, as well as the conflicting sense of relief. You want them to know that they are not alone and that you have not abandoned them, but sometimes life just happens and you have too many responsibilities on your hands.
If there are reasons why hiring a provider of homecare in Santa Monica is not a viable solution, you may decide to take a nursing home in the area into consideration. For some seniors, entering a nursing home or another type of care facility truly is the best and safest option.
So what are the potential advantages and disadvantages of nursing homes?
When should an elderly person go to a nursing home?
You notice that your aging parent no longer has the strength to keep up and live an independent life. You feel frustrated knowing that they are not enjoying their old age despite all your effort. If you have a job or children to take care of, you may also find it difficult to provide ongoing and consistent hands-on care.
All of this may be emotionally draining and extremely stressful. As a result, you are chronically exhausted and you feel like you are not getting anywhere.
The answer is obvious: you need a viable elderly care alternative, and a nursing home may be one of them, especially if your elderly parent is no longer capable of living on their own. However, you should have the following considerations in mind:
- Each nursing home has its own recommendations and requirements for new residents, but not every nursing home will be equally suitable for your loved one. Choosing the best nursing home needs time to work because not all nursing homes are the same.
- Although the terms may be used interchangeably, there is a difference between nursing homes and retirement homes. The difference is primarily in the level of medical care provided.
- Retirement communities give residents a higher level of independence, as they offer separate and autonomous homes for residents.
What activities can you do in a nursing home?
A nursing home is a specialized facility for the residential care of the elderly or disabled.
Nursing homes provide a range of services. Aside from room and board and social and recreational activities optimized for the needs of the elderly, nursing homes typically offer help with the medication schedule and monitoring, as well as emergency care. Personal care includes a range of services: bathing, dressing, and toileting assistance. On the other hand, caregivers can offer a similar range of services, only in a different, more familiar setting.
Is in home care cheaper than nursing home?
Private in home care can be much more affordable than a nursing home, mainly because in home care is provided on an hourly basis as opposed to care in a nursing home which is available round the clock. Another advantage of in home care is that the service is fully customizable to a person which is convenient because the elderly are seldom accustomed to change and may not be willing to compromise on their usual way of life. Furthermore, the elderly may experience anxiety at the thought of having to leave their home to live among strangers.
What should I look for in a nursing home?
The number one thing you should focus on is whether the nursing home has the amenities and the services your elderly loved one needs, even if it does have a premium location in the vicinity of Saint John’s Hospital. For instance, persons with dementia may experience a nursing home as a hostile environment and would be much more comfortable staying in their own home. On the other hand, emergency medical care which some nursing homes offer is definitely a convenient advantage.
Can an elderly person refuse to go to a nursing home?
You understand that your elderly loved one needs a higher level of care than you can provide. After all, it is their health and quality of life that is at stake. At the same time, you may be concerned if a nursing home is the right solution because nursing homes get a bad reputation. This is one of the reasons why many elderly people are reluctant to make this drastic change in their life, even if all looks good on paper and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Professional homecare in Santa Monica and beyond
Unless another person has legal responsibility and the capacity of a guardian. If a family member has been granted guardianship of an elderly person, it means that they have been appointed by the court to make medical decisions and to manage daily care of the elderly person.
We are here to help you regain control of the situation and help your aging parents spend their old age as comfortably as possible. Give your elderly loved one a higher standard of living and quality of life. Contact us now!