Aging happens to everyone and research suggests that most Americans turning age 65 will need long-term care at some point in their lives. Early planning for retirement reduces future uncertainties and conflicts, allowing us to age well and live life on our own terms. Whether you are considering senior care for yourself or your loved one, there is so much to think about that it can become a daunting process. Not quite sure how to get started? Here are the four questions to ask when considering senior care.
What Does Your Loved One Think or Feel about It?
Initiating a talk about the potential need for long-term care may not be easy because no one likes to talk about aging. Unless your loved ones are in a state where they are unable to make decisions, they should have a say in this.
Have an open conversation with your loved ones and listen to what they want or prefer. Ask them about what they envision their future to be like. Maintain positivity and be realistic about the situation. Most importantly, include them in the decision-making process. After all, they may be the ones requiring senior care in the future.
What Is the Current State of Health and Well-Being?
Assessing the current physical, mental, and emotional state of your loved one will help you understand how senior care can be beneficial. If your loved one is experiencing the usual set of challenges that come with general aging, you may worry about things like accidents, scams, and loneliness when your loved one is living alone. Protecting your loved one from these concerns is a good reason to consider independent senior living.
On the other hand, if your loved ones require assistance in daily activities or are experiencing progressive diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other chronic health conditions, they will need long-term quality care. As much as loving family members want to be their caregivers, they usually lack the formal training required to meet their loved ones’ medical needs.
What Type of Care Is Needed?
As the informal caregiver, you may have knowledge of the type and extent of care your loved ones need. However, depending on their medical state, you should still seek advice from their doctors on the type and measure of care required. There may be activities your loved one should not do without assistance or routines that require assistance from trained professionals, for example, therapies, memory care programs, and medical prescriptions.
Other than your loved ones’ health conditions, you should also think about the social, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of their lives. Your loved ones need companionship and mind stimulation to keep boredom away. They may also need help with household chores, commuting, and running errands.
Who Will Be the Care Provider?
Answers to the above questions will help you narrow down your loved ones’ options. Depending on various factors such as financial impact, location, and extent of care required, there are three potential options to look at:
- In-Home Caregiver
- Licensed Agency
- Independent or Assisted Living Community
In-home caregivers are hired independently to assist your loved one, but they may not be covered by liability insurance. Licensed agencies can do thorough checks on their caregivers and provide adequate insurance. If your loved one is thinking about joining a retirement community in California, MD, Discovery Commons At Wildewood offers senior living options like independent and assisted living. At our retirement community, your loved one can look forward to high-quality care, and enjoy the benefits of worry-free living.
