When it comes to thinking about senior care, it can be difficult to decide which is the right path to take. This is why it’s important to understand the different types of senior care available and what kind of residential care would suit your elderly parent or relative’s needs if they can’t live independently anymore. To give you some ideas of what options are out there, here are five examples of senior residential homes to choose from.
Retirement Community
A retirement community is designed for those who are still able to live independently but perhaps want to be closer to people their age for socializing and companionship. Individuals and couples can move into retirement communities, often having a private flat or house within the community to call their home. There are usually organized activities to take part in on-site and day trips to museums, galleries, theatres, and shopping malls regularly. Often these communities can have on-site convenience stores, a gym/swimming pool, and other recreational areas.
Assisted Living Home
An assisted living home would be a better fit for senior citizens who require assistance with daily tasks such as grooming, bathing, meal preparation, and household chores. Similar to a retirement community, assisted living will have on-site facilities and organized activities, including social events, that residents can take part in. They will have carers on-site 24 hours to help them, including assistance with medication. Nurses and doctors will also visit these homes to help out with medical treatments and general healthcare checks. Here is a good example of these adult living communities, including independent living and memory care.
Nursing Home
Nursing homes might be one of the first care options you think about when it comes to residential homes for seniors, but these are designed for those who require more intensive healthcare assistance. They can offer palliative care for residents with terminal illnesses or reaching the end of life, helping them to be more comfortable. However, it’s not only for those in this position, but others who might need to take daily medications and other more intensive treatments and are unable to live independently.
Memory Care Homes
Memory care is specifically for those who are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. You can also take your senior relative with these conditions to visit day centers if they are still able to live at home for the majority of the time. If your senior relative with dementia has reached a stage where living at home has become dangerous, such as them wandering off and getting lost, or leaving on stoves or faucets, then moving them into a memory care residence will ensure that they get the support they need in a safe environment with trained professionals.
Short Term Residents
Finally, if your senior relative doesn’t need or want to stay in a care home for an extended time, there is the option of them living in these homes for shorter stays. It might be that you usually care for them at home but are unable to due to work commitments that take you out of town or perhaps having work done on a property that requires you to leave the house. They are also useful for those who need transitional care after surgery or another treatment and aren’t quite ready to return to independent living.
If you are considering residential care homes for your senior relative, make sure you’re choosing the correct facility to meet their needs.
