We all need a little help from time to time, but sometimes we need a little more on a more constant basis. Assisted living is for those who wish to still live on their own, but with the assistance of someone trained to help them with their day-today needs, whether in a center or with in their own home with a service providing assistance. You may not be able to live by yourself anymore, but you also don’t need constant care either.
Sometimes this help can be found with help in the home by a live-in helper, but most often it is found in an assisted living community. Mostly gone are the days of ‘warehousing’ people, of inattentive staff and horror stories of care gone wrong.
Take a look through our Assisted Living Guide articles below to learn more.
Getting Started with Assisted Living
We all know when we need help, but we don’t always want to admit it. The assisted living center is a step between living on your own and living in an environment where much more constant and consistent care is needed, such as a nursing home. You should consult your doctor, and take the time to find the right place. Most centers will have tours, brochures and even a policy where a prospective occupant might be able to stay a day or two to get the feel for a place.
In this section, you will find information about:
Finding the right Assisted Living Community
An assisted living facility will differ from a nursing home in the amount of care it provides. While the amount will be more than, say, a drop-in nurse for a person living at home, it is less that the round-the-clock care of the nursing home. A nursing home is designed for the frail person, not able to care for themselves anymore, while the assisted living facility will assist those not able to do a few things for themselves anymore, such as cook, bath themselves or are starting to become confused or experiencing memory loss.
Reliable ones can be found through your doctor, the state boards, or the Better Business Bureau. Also check with friends and family members for recommendations.
In this section, you will learn about:
- Questions to Ask an Assisted Living Community
- Assisted Living FAQ
- Assisted Living Amenities
- Assisted Living Regulations
- Moving Day to an Assisted Living Community
- Choosing an Assisted Living Community
- Long Term Insurance
- Researching Assisted Living Communities
- Short Term Visit Issues
- 9 Reasons Not to Age in Place
Home Care Versus an Assisted Living Communnity
Sometimes assisted care can take place in the home. There are many companies that can help provide in home care. These providers with make stop in visits, deliver meals and provide enough assistance to keep the elder in their home.
First, you need to accurately assess the needs of the person for whom the care is going to be provided. Are they at a level where a few visits a week or maybe one a day would meet their needs? Again, your family physician or hospital can assist in this assessment. They can assist n sorting out and finding a reliable company to take care of a loved one. Remember, not only should you be comfortable with the provider, but your elder should be as well.
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Advice and Tips for the Family
Helping out an elderly loved, parent, sibling or friend can be hard not only on the one being helped, but the one doing the helping as well. There are problems beyond costs, such as guilt, anger and loss that will need to be dealt with.
Many assisted living centers can point you to support groups, as can your doctor or hospitals. With people living longer, many are going through the pain such a move might incur, and meeting with of people in a similar situation can help. Remember, you are not alone, no matter how much it may feel you are.
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Dealing with the Costs of an Assisted Living Community
One of the hardest things to deal with, beside the pain of an elderly loved one coming to a place in life where they will need to give up a certain amount of independence, is finding a way to pay for the added care and cost.
There are many forms of government aid, such as Medicare, available to those who need it. Depending on the state in which you live you might be eligible for state aid. To find your local Medicare office try Eldercare Locator by phone toll-free at 800-677-1116, or just type in Medicare and your state into any search engine.
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