As the population ages many people are finding themselves taking of care of their elderly loved ones. This situation can get complicated as there are many responsibilities associated to this task. Ultimately, you want the best possible environment for your loved one as well as yourself.
If your loved one’s health is deteriorating at a pace that you cannot keep up with, then you may have to consider other primary care options such as a retirement home. This decision will not come easily and there are many different options that need to be considered during this time. This article intends to guide you through this important decision making process.
First of all, you need to determine what kind of care your loved one needs. Is their health deteriorating at a fast pace? Will they need to be constantly attended to and/or supervised? If the answer to these two questions is yes then they should be put in a nursing home. A nursing home attends to individuals with higher needs.
If your loved one is suffering from the advanced stages of dementia, has previously suffered a stroke or cancer or has another debilitating disease which prevents him or her from taking care of him or herself then this is the best option for them. On the other hand, if your loved one is in good enough health to maintain the basic needs he or she needs but may require minor assistance at times then a retirement home is best suited for them.
A retirement home allows your loved one to maintain their freedom whilst living in an environment that will still attend to their basic needs. Furthermore, if your loved one suffers from a rare disease there may be homes that specifically attend to their condition.
While making your decision it is important to carefully consider many options. Make sure that you personally visit each and every home with your loved one. Look for their discrete reactions when they are there. You may be able to tell where he or she is more comfortable by simply observing them. Also, do use your own judgment of each home as well, this is also important to consider as you may be better able to make an informed decision.
Retirement homes are generally state of the art facilities and will offer many great services; however, you should look into background of the home, its health and safety credentials as well as asking other residents or individuals who have loved ones their opinions about the home.
If possible try and ask them in a private setting so that there is no outside influence on their answer. Finally, put as much effort into this process as you would like for someone to do for you so that you can optimize this experience for you and your loved one.
This is a learning experience for you and your loved one. If you do end up making the wrong decision and your or your loved one are unhappy with the choice that was made then it is important to try to fix this to make both of you feel happy and secure.
Nursing and retirement homes are a great option for providing primary care to an elderly person and for providing peace of mind for their loved ones. They should take away the worries associated to having a loved one with special needs.
After a loved one is comfortably placed in a home then the focus should remain on building and maintaining their relationship. Although this is may be a difficult process and decision the outcome should be a positive one and that is to ultimately maximize the quality of life and time spent with your loved one.
