Aging is a normal part of life and living independently can become difficult as several physical and mental conditions occur during the process. Having said that, you or your loved one may need help with daily tasks, managing health conditions such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or recovery after surgery. This is where long-term care services come in and help your aging parent live a healthy life without stress and anxiety. These services include high quality senior home care and skilled care providers for on-site facilities. Since everyone’s needs, lifestyle, and budget vary, there are various long-term care options to choose from.
What is Long-Term Care?
Long-term care includes medical and non-medical assistance provided to elderly people who are unable to perform basic activities of daily living, like showering, meal preparation, eating, or grooming. These Long-term care services can be provided at home, or in the community, assisted living, or nursing homes. To be more specific, there are four main types of long-term facilities for seniors such as Independent Living Facilities, Assisted Living Communities, Nursing Home, Hospice and Residential Care. Choosing any type of long-term facilities can be the hardest and emotionally challenging, but it can make yours and your elderly parent’s life easier. Since everyone’s needs, lifestyle, and budget vary, there are various long-term care options to choose from.
Long-Term Care Services offered:
- Personal care
- Nutritional services
- Transportation
- Adult day care
- Supervising medication
- Post-hospital discharge care
- Professionally trained nurses around the clock for support and assistance
- Specialized diet plan to manage diabetes and other health conditions
- Rehabilitative therapies
Types of Long-Term Care Facilities for Seniors:
1. Independent Living for Seniors:
As the name suggests, interdependent living or retired communities is simply any housing arrangement that is exclusively designed for seniors. This could be an apartment or a ranch house with easier navigation, no maintenance work, and a lot friendlier for your aging parent. In this scenario, residents live independently and have a clubhouse or service network in the neighborhood where they can meet and spend time with peers. Usually, these facilities provide services such as barbers, daily meals, laundry, and basic housekeeping. This type of facility is not free. There is a monthly fee required to live in these kinds of households.
2. Assisted Living Communities:
In assisted living facilities, elders are provided around the clock supervision, including meals, assistance with personal care, help with medications, housekeeping, laundry, security, on-site staff, and companionship. This type of long-term care facility is ideal for seniors who need extra help, but do not have serious medical conditions or complex care needs.
3. Nursing Home:
Nursing home is a 24×7 day care facility for seniors who can no longer live independently. In nursing homes, skilled medical professionals or nurses provide specialized elderly care for individuals with severe illnesses or injuries. These facilities are often used to treat seniors with dementia and those recovering from a stroke, accident, diabetes, pneumonia etc. These trained staff or nurses assist residents with activities such as bathing, eating, personal grooming, and incontinence care. Nursing home care for seniors can be short term or acute and critical.
4. Hospice Care:
Hospice care is a special kind of care given to elderly people who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness that needs special attention and supervision. It is compassionate and medical care to aging people who are in the last phases of their life. This type of care facility makes sure that even if they are living for a fewer days or months, they still live a good quality life. Seniors get nursing as well as doctoral services, medical supplies, therapies, dietary counselling, and social work services.
Which Type of Long-Term Facilities is Best for Senior Care?
Knowing what type of facility is appropriate for your aging parent can be tricky. This is a difficult and painful time for you and your family members, and we understand the situation. Our elder care professionals have listed assessments that you need to determine which type of care will best meet your senior one’s needs, preferences, and finances.
1. Concerning Medical and Health Conditions:
If your elderly parent has just recently experienced a fall or a stroke or is having confusion or memory loss, it is best to keep them in a nursing home or have assisted living care. Independent living or retirement facilities won’t help your loved ones. Seniors with dementia can greatly benefit from home care services since the family caregivers have more time to connect and build relationships with the patient.
2. Pay Attention to Their Activity Levels:
Someone who is aging, loves being social, and who does not need 24×7 medical attention can benefit from staying at retirement housing communities. Seniors who are isolated will enjoy being a part of their field trips, events, gaming, and companionship with like-minded and aged groups.
3. Consider Licensing and safety:
You cannot just jump into any long-term care facility. You need to do your own research and see if the concerned care service facility is licensed to take care of elderly people. Check if the place is hygienic, environmentally friendly and socially safe for your loved one. Reviews and recommendations from your friends and colleagues can ease down this step for you.
Is Long-Term Care Covered by Medicare?
In most cases, Medicare will not cover long-term care services. There may be some cases in which it will cover long-term care, but only if medical care is needed. Medicare does, however, cover non-medical home care.
Are Long-Term Care Benefits Taxable?
Long-term care benefits are generally considered by the IRS to be non-taxable, and the premiums people pay for long-term care insurance are tax deductible. However, long-term care benefits will become taxable once they exceed an amount limit set by the IRS which varies depending on the unique situation of each individual policy holder.
Senior Home Care from Assisting Hands
Seniors are valuable members of the family, and they should never be overlooked. If you have a loved one who needs special care, attention, and around the clock services at home, we have trained family caregivers in Batavia, IL who can be your senior’s personal care assistant and home-health aid to give them the life they deserve. For more information or to book a senior home caregiver, click to call (630) 948-8193.
