Perhaps your loved one wants to stay at home, but you no longer feel it is practical or safe. There are steps to take when deciding the right thing to do, and you may be surprised at the number of options you have.
Most people tell us that they would prefer to age-in-place. That is, they want to remain living in their own homes throughout their lifetime. But if staying at home alone or without assistance becomes unsafe or otherwise impractical for an older loved one, moving out is not necessarily the only option.
The elderly person’s support network, including family members, friends, neighbors and members of their faith community can oftentimes pull together to provide many forms of assistance they may need, either for free or at a fraction of the cost of hiring someone to do the job. Beyond that, there are also many types of professional assistance available that may allow that person to safely remain at home and be well taken care of.
Briefly, these home based professional services include:
Homemaker / Companion Services - You can hire a private company to provide a wide array of non-medical services in the home, including but not limited to housekeeping, meal preparation, bill paying, errand-running and companionship. Some services will even accompany your loved one to the theater or the mall. You can pick and choose what services you need and can afford, and you work with the agency to arrange the schedule. Services offered and prices vary from one agency to the next, so be sure to read the section on selecting a homemaker and companion service if you are considering this type of help. Find out more about this option.
Home Health Services - Various forms of medical and health services can be provided in the home, sometimes on a long-term basis, but also in response to an acute illness or temporary medical condition. These services can range from administering medication to providing wound care, physical therapy or pain management. These types of services are typically arranged in cooperation with your physician and/or hospital discharge planner. The level of care needed by the patient will determine the type professional and frequency of service. Your health insurance company may need to be consulted to determine the type of benefits and providers they will cover. Find out more about this option.
Technology-based Assistance - Many people are relying more and more on modern technology to provide reassurance and assistance in case of a medical emergency. New and different options become available every day, but some of the more popular choices include the wearing of a monitored, personal medical alert device. In the event of an emergency, the person wearing the device pushes a button which sends an electronic call for help. Other devices can sense when the person falls and will automatically call for help. There are also location devices to help find someone who may wander from home and become disoriented. Prices and levels of service can vary, and you may be asked to sign a long-term contract, so do your homework and read the contract before investing in this type of help.
There may come a time when the elder’s level of care exceeds what family members and outside assistance can provide.
If the elder is relatively healthy, but living alone at home is not working, moving to an Adult Living Facility or ALF may be a good choice.
Briefly, an ALF provides independent “apartment” living in a community setting, where oversight and various types of assistance are provided. Additional outside services can be arranged, if needed, such as meals or housekeeping services. Another real advantage of an ALF can be the built-in social network, which may have been missing from the elder’s life if they had been confined to their home.
If an ALF setting does not meet the elder’s needs, then a Nursing Home may be required. Many such facilities have areas of specialization, such as memory care units for people with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia or rehabilitation therapy services to treat injuries or other medical conditions.
Families need to keep the lines of communication open and should begin discussing their thoughts and feelings about this topic before a crisis hits. There are tools that can help guide elders and their adult children through this type of conversation. There are also legal documents you may wish to complete, and consulting an Elder Law Attorney may be in your best interest to ensure your needs are met and your wishes are upheld.
We recognize that you may need an impartial but well-informed person to talk to about these types of decisions. You can speak with one of the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging's Information & Referral Specialists by calling 1-800-96-ELDER.