Understanding the various levels of care is helpful while looking for senior housing choices for a loved one. This will guide your decision on how to care for your loved one.
Daily life activities, such as bathing, dressing, and controlling incontinence, call for assistance at level two. This care might be given at home or in a senior community.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is a residence for elderly individuals who require more assistance with their everyday activities than independent living offers. They may also have health problems that make it difficult to live safely at home, such as frequent falls. Falls can lead to serious head or hip injuries. Assisted living communities assess their residents’ fall risk and provide services to prevent falls.
Seniors requiring level 3 care may have several medical conditions that must be monitored closely. They may also experience memory loss and need extensive help with daily activities. They often need assistance dressing, bathing, and managing their medication.
A licensed healthcare professional can thoroughly assess your loved one’s health and needs. This will help you determine the best senior living option for your family. A care advisor can also help you understand the different levels of senior living and find a community that fits your loved one.
Senior communities
Cambridge Village Senior Living are residential housing complex offering various services, including recreational and educational programs, meals, housekeeping and transportation. The cost of care varies based on the type of care required. Independent living, for example, starts at around $8,200 a month per person, and memory care is more than twice as much.
Another option for older adults is home care, which includes a nurse or other health care professional visiting a patient’s house to ensure they eat, bathe and take their medications as prescribed. This may help families working during the day or wanting to know their elderly loved one is well.
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) combine several types of senior living on the same campus to provide a full range of care. Residents can move from one community section to another as their needs change. They usually have an entrance fee and monthly fees that increase as the level of care rises.
Staying at home
While social distancing and staying at home may feel like a necessary precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can also have negative mental health effects on those who have been forced to stay inside and isolate themselves. These effects include a lack of social interaction, depression, and anxiety.
Senior living communities can offer various services for seniors who need help with daily activities. Some offer meals, housekeeping and laundry included in the monthly base fee; some provide transportation services to doctors’ appointments or local attractions.
When touring senior care options, list your loved one’s prioritized needs and assess whether a given community can meet them. This will provide a framework to formulate the best questions during your meeting or tour. Then, you can find the right care solution that meets your loved one’s present and future needs. To start, schedule a comprehensive care assessment with your doctor. They can then recommend the best long-term care option for you.
Memory Care
A dedicated memory care community may be the best option when a loved one struggles with memory loss. These communities are designed with memory care in mind, and the staff has specific training in working with those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. In general, they provide daily routines that are more organized to lower anxiety and stress levels while ensuring a safe and secure environment.
Memory care also offers a lower staff-to-resident ratio so staff can build relationships and focus on each resident’s needs. This can include person-centered care, which considers a senior’s interests, past experiences and abilities to develop a personalized care plan. Sunset’s memory care residents can enjoy activities like pet therapy, music therapy and art therapy that are proven to improve cognitive function, reduce aggression and enhance communication.
While standard Medicaid does not cover long-term care costs, families can use private funds or tap into their life insurance policy to pay for memory or assisted living care. An experienced elder law attorney can help navigate the options for financial assistance.
