Types of Care for the Elderly and Disabled
March 6th, 2010
The term nursing home care is a generic term meaning a facility where those unable to care for themselves are housed. They come in several different levels of care, dependent upon how much care an aged, or disabled person, may need. However, the one thing Skilled Nursing Care, Assistant Living Care, and Independent Living have in common is the price. It is out of reach of many that are in need of its services.
Independent Living
This label says it all. It is living within the confines of a community where care is available when it is needed. This has been the most recent development in assisting the elderly, assisting them to care for themselves. Houses are wide, accommodating wheelchairs and hospital bed — if and when needed — roomier and built for easy maintenance. There may be other restrictions as to age limits of those buying into the homes. Near by will be help when and if it is needed.
Assisted Living
This is institutional living but as the name applies, assistance is given only when it is needed. The residents eat in a communal dining room and those who need special medications and doctor appointments have these taken care of by the attendants. Often two or three share a room and all share a lounge. Private rooms are more expensive. The better ones attempt to have some kind of entertainment from time to time. Help is most likely low level and when supervised medical conditions are needed, visiting nurses and other specialists make periodic checks.
Skilled Nursing
This is where those who are incapacitated with chronic illnesses such as strokes and other neurological and muscular diseases are given professional care. A registered nurse is on the staff and this facility more resembles a hospital than do assistant living places of care. The downside is not only the expense, but often the lack of help. Most nursing homes of either type, assisted living facilities or skilled nursing home, are understaffed.
What are future considerations? Finding alternatives to expensive care as it is now is necessary. Whether elderly and disabled care will resort back to smaller, private, one, two or three patients being cared for by private citizens in their home — as it was done before Nursing Homes became regulated — is possible. Of course for this to happen, Medicare and other types of insurance would have to be available.