Eldercare Services

Significance

Adult day care program, courtesy of seattlepi.nwsource.com.
Before you can determine what type of eldercare services your mother, father, spouse, or grandparent may need, you will need to assess the health condition of your loved one. You must watch for any warning signs of failing health that could indicate her need for a more secure and supervised environment. These signs include any physical impairments like loss of sight or an inability to walk with stability, emotional withdrawal from those around them which can lead to isolation and depression, or cognitive problems like memory loss and confusion. Since the types of available eldercare services are geared toward many different health issues, determining the extent of their medical problems is essential when choosing the type of services your elderly family member may need.

Independent living complex, courtesy of shawnleeinc.com.
There are six basic types of eldercare services available. The first is in-home care, which can either be provided in the elderly person's home or in the home of her family member who has taken her in. While a majority of the care may be provided by the family, there may be a time when they need someone to come and stay with their family member due to work schedules or personal obligations. Adult day care programs are another option for family members who need a reprieve from the care of their loved one. These programs are community based and operate during traditional business hours. Next we have independent living facilities. The elderly family member can live alone in her own apartment or condo that is nestled in a complex created solely for the elderly. The next step would be an assisted living facility. With this type of elder services, the person in need of care has his own apartment, but it is located within a facility rather than a complex. Nursing homes are a type of elder care for those who need constant, 24-hour supervision. Finally, there are Alzheimer's facilities which are geared toward the needs of an elderly loved one suffering from cognitive impairments, people who require constant supervision.

Assisted living facility, courtesy of medicaljobs.my100megs.com.
Health care agencies are generally hired to provide in-home care. Houseworkers come in and assist with laundry, vacuuming and grocery shopping. Home health aides and nurses are provided to help the patient with bathing and dressing, taking their medications and provide health assessments which are reported to the patient's doctor. Adult day care programs provide a social environment for the patient to participate in under the supervision of health professionals. Independent living complexes provide the elderly with an opportunity to interact with their peers through social and recreational events which can help relieve and prevent depression. Nursing homes offer around-the-clock care and supervision by licensed nursing professionals, and they also provide all meals, laundry services and medical needs of the resident. Alzheimer's facilities provide care for the resident by licensed health care professionals who specialize in the needs of the Alzheimer's patient.

Nursing home professional assisting a resident, courtesy of disabilitiestoabilities.com.
Using an agency to provide in-home care services offers the security of a fully trained staff who are frequently required to attend in-services to further their health care education. The agency will also provide another worker if the person assigned is sick or on vacation. Adult day care programs offer a secure social environment for the elderly, and these programs meet the basic medical needs of the participants. Independent living complexes give the elderly the opportunity to keep a piece of independence during their aging process, while having various services such as transportation available to them when needed. Assisted living facilities still provides independence for the elderly while having a staff of trained professionals on hand to assist them if it is needed. Nursing homes offer the family of the resident a sense of security due to the mandated federal and state regulations that insure proper care and safety of their loved one. They also offer physical and speech therapy to those who require it, and many times will have a beauty shop in the facility to pamper the ladies once a week. Alzheimer's facilities provide a security system to ensure the safety of any residents who may attempt to wander and leave the facility. If a resident attempts to enter an elevator, it will not move, and all doors are installed with codes that must be correctly entered before the door will open.

Alzheimers patient being assisted by worker, courtesy of nihseniorhealth.com.
The use of an agency for in-home care can be quite expensive and often has to be paid out of pocket by the family unless it has been prescribed by a doctor. The cost of an adult day program can cost between 30 and 50 dollars a day. In some cases, Medicare may help with the cost if there are health care services being provided. Medicare does not cover the cost of independent living complexes due to the absence of medical services, and they are not regulated for safety by the government. The cost of an assisted living facility ranges between one and three thousand dollars a month, generally paid for by the family. These also have no federal regulations regarding the care and safety of the resident. While the cost per month for a nursing home is determined by the services rendered, it can often range between four and five thousand dollars. Before Medicare will take over payment, any assets the resident may have--such as homes or vehicles--will be seized by the state to help cover the cost of their stay. Alzheimer's facility fees are usually paid for by the family and by Medicare.