Aging is a scary process. It’s the duty of elderly homes and assisted living centers to ease your worries.
When a loved one starts to show signs of aging, it can be difficult to know where to start. How do you reach out to them concerning assisted living homes without feeling like you’re criticizing them or pushing them away? While this decision will never be easy, you can certainly make it easier. Learning about the function of elderly homes and what they have to offer your loved one will go a long way in creating a seamless transition from home life to a new community.
Let’s talk about what nursing homes aren’t. They aren’t a far-removed and isolated community meant to shut your loved one off from the world. They are, first and foremost, a useful medical and social resource for an aging population struggling to take care of themselves in the day-to-day. Nursing homes are also a viable choice for those that require 24-hour care or who struggle with disabilities that affect their quality of life. Assisted living services provide around-the-clock healthcare, travel resources and social events. We’ll explore that more below after we look at some statistics.
The United States is seeing a massive surge in the aging population. In fact, as much as 20% of the country will be over the age of 65 in 2030. This means, even if you have family members who aren’t yet struggling with mobility, this is a conversation that shouldn’t be avoided. While the official retirement age is 67, the average admissions age for a nursing home is closer to 79. Back in 2000 nearly 5% of all American citizens over the age of 65 were in a nursing home. This number is only expected to grow as time goes on.
Coverage is another understandable concern that can see you putting off this transition. Nursing homes are just as varied as their patients and offer a range of prices. Medicare, however, can cover nursing home costs under certain requirements. Women have been found to be three times more likely to reside in a nursing home than men during this point in their life. A common reason cited is the misconception that depending on nursing care homes is displaying weakness or incompetence. Don’t be afraid of touching on this point if you feel this would get in the way of your loved one receiving help.
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, followed close behind similar forms of dementia. In fact, this is the most common reason elders are admitted into nursing homes. Dementia impedes an individual’s ability to complete minor day-to-day tasks, such as bathing or cooking, and can even impact their mobility. Common signs of dementia include motor control issues, short-term memory loss, long-term memory loss, mood swings and sudden bouts of dizziness. Around 40% of elderly home patients are living with dementia. Elderly homes will make sure your family member receives the support they need.
Nursing homes and elderly homes provide consistent medical care, social support services and anything an elderly patient will need to live the highest quality of life possible. The majority of elderly residents will receive assistance with three or more of the more common issues — this includes bathing, dressing, washing, walking, traveling and exercising. Some nursing homes even offer options for residents to maintain independence while still having healthcare and medication management. Which one is most viable for your loved one will require an open dialogue about their physical health, mental health and concerns for the future.
Independent living and a higher quality of life starts with one step. Pour a cup of tea, sit down with your family and talk about how you can move forward together.
