Entrusting our loved ones into a nursing home is a big decision that requires important decisions to be made. When we entrust our loved ones to a facility, our goal is to keep them safe and ensure they are well cared for. Nursing homes offer plenty of services which include nursing care, 24-hour supervision, and assistance with everyday activities. The services that nursing homes offer can be a lot when you are deciding for a loved one. However, depending on the needs of your loved one, scoping out the right nursing home to fit their needs can still be challenging. Rather than stretching yourself too thin, it may be in your and your family’s best interests to seek out professional elder care for your loved one. With the influx of the aging Baby Boomer generation entering the senior care space (a projected 7 million by 2030), there are certainly plenty of options.
Common Types of Nursing Home Options
- Independent Living – This type of care allows your loved one to either remain in their current home or move to a new home in an independent living community with the option to hire a visiting nurse or caregiver to help with tasks. These communities often provide social activities to foster that desirable “neighborhood” atmosphere. This is a popular option for those who are mostly self-sufficient or have just a few needs.
- Assisted Living – This facility requires seniors to move to a new apartment in an assisted living community. While residing in assisted living communities, residents have access to 24-hour custodial care from trained caregivers.
- Nursing Homes – This care houses residents in private or shared apartments where they have access to 24-hour custodial and skilled care from nurses and therapists.
- Continuing Care Communities – These facilities are unusual, but convenient for residents who wish to avoid moving as their needs increase with age. Continuing Care Communities offer a wide variety of housing for elders of all types ranging from independent living to skilled nursing home care. As a medical or custodial concern grows, residents can move within the community according to their needs.
If your loved one has shown signs of dementia, they may require extra care in the form of memory care. Communities that specialize in memory care are designed to attend to the needs of those with declining memory.
Visiting a Facility can Help You Make the Right Choice
As with any home, you never want to rent or buy sight unseen. In the case of elder care, touring in person can give you a good idea of facility operations, how the nurses or caregivers interact with their residents, how happy the residents seem, and the cleanliness of the facility. If possible, eat a meal from the facility’s kitchens, as your loved one will be eating this food often. You may also speak directly to the residents to get a firsthand account of the care available. After all, the nurses and caregivers will probably be on their best behavior when they see a potential resident touring. Keep an eye out for the following:
- Handicap access
- Calendars of activities
- Lively conversation between residents and caregivers
- Strong odors (bad odors could be evidence of a problem; good ones could mean they’re trying to hide a problem)
- General positive atmosphere
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
The Nursing Home & Elder Abuse attorneys of McCune Law Group, has made it their mission to protect one of our society’s most vulnerable populations. We believe that all groups deserve equal legal protection, especially if age or a medical condition makes it difficult. With a history of multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, we are ready to protect your loved ones.
To learn more about our Nursing Home & Elder Abuse team, call (909) 345-8110 today to learn more!