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When to Move: Transitioning from Home to Facility
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Comments (3)When does homecare stop fitting the bill? This question is faced by many and here's the rub—many people are reticent to move out of their home. I have come across similar situations in my family twice. When both my grandmother and aunt were ill, the attitude towards moving either into a long-term care facility was reticence. Both women were viewed as matriarchs who held together the family fabric in some invisible but very tangible way—similar to a French seam. Moving someone from their home has always been the last option in my family. But when family and in-home caregivers aren’t enough, then a change must be made.
If you are unsure of what you need or where to turn to find it, then I urge you to talk with a geriatric care manager or use Gilbert Guide's web site to help you. The bottom line: even if one is reluctant to leave their current home, it is about seeing that your family member is in the place which best suits his or her needs. The major topics you need to discuss should take into account financial, social and safety issues. Depending on the type and amount of care needed, one alternative may end up being more financially viable than the other.
The primary concern for families hiring homecare workers is usually financial. When a senior’s care needs increase, then the financial strain comes to the forefront. Having in-home care for more than a few hours a day is very expensive. Staying at home also involves the responsibility of taking care of the home. An assisted living facility requires a monthly fee, but all aspects of home ownership are taken care of. Another consideration is safety. Assisted living residents are monitored more often, and some facilities even employ staff RNs, which during emergency situations can be critical. Also ask yourself whether your loved one’s social needs are being met. One person coming into the home for a few hours a day may not be enough interaction, especially if that person is in other rooms tending to daily chores for prolonged periods of time. Assisted living facilities typically provide a variety of interesting activities, in addition to offering convenient services and resources. Many facilities have onsite services that run the gamut from beauty shops to chapels. Moving away from home might not sound appealing at first, but having a new one where everything is taken care of just might.
Wishing you all the best in making your decisions,
Lara Belonogoff
Posted in: Assisted Living, Elder Care, Homecare, Weighing your Housing Options, What About My House?
[…] If you live in Vermont, click here to find out more about eligibility requirements. For more information on when to consider transferring from home into a facility see my When to Move post. […]
In our local area of Texas, the monthly cost of an assisted living facility has a staggering price tag. Most families would be hard pressed to not have to sell the family home to pay for a room about 12X12. Most in home care companies will have a per-diem rate for live-in or for services over 12 hours per day. These rates are comperable to the assisted living costs. Studies show that people heal faster and live longer when surrounded by their own pets, friends, and things. As long as the person is safe at home, and wandering is not an issue, then all of the normal socialization can occur by the in-home company providing transportation to social events for seniors, church services and shopping. Home maintenance and lawn care is often available from the in-home care company. I know our company will fix leaky faucets and change light bulbs as needed for no charge. Just part of the service to keep elder adults independent at home.
[…] If you or a loved one is considering moving into a continuing care retirement community, it’s imperative that you clearly understand any contract you are asked to sign, and perhaps consult an elder law attorney first. Assisted living is not the only option for securing assistance with activities of daily living. First, there are adult day care centers, ideal for seniors who can still bathe and dress themselves but want to remain social and involved in their communities. In some cases, they may need rehabilitative services, readily available at adult day health care centers. For seniors who require greater assistance with the fundamentals of self-care—feeding, bladder management and personal hygiene, for example, an in-home caregiver can be hired without a physician’s recommendation to provide nonmedical care in a person’s home. (Read this recent post on when you might want to consider moving from home into a facility, and this post about the different ways of obtaining home care, with the pros and cons to each.) […]