- Home care
Some older adults want to live in their homes with their spouses and do not like residential communities. If you need assistance for few tasks or you to need short-term medical assistance and do not want to leave your home, home care is the best option for you. The assistance you need can be provided from the comfort of your home. That’s why home-care is considered one of the fastest-growing healthcare industries in the United States. Home-care facilities are appealing and attractive. Caregivers can give you different services at the doorstep. They can provide you short-term or long-term services according to your needs. Home-care services may include companionship, assistance for daily tasks, laundry, and transportation and more depends upon your needs. They may also provide medical care at home. Different types of home care are;
- Companion care is for those older adults who lack social interaction and suffer from loneliness. This is also called ‘light assistance’. Companions can read books, watch movies, go on walks with their clients.
- Personal care assistance means that caregivers can perform everyday tasks for seniors. This may include washing, bathing, housekeeping, grocery shopping, laundry, and transportation Vast range of services are provided in personal care. If you find difficulty in mobility or you cannot drive yourself, personal care assistants can there for you.
- Home health care assistants provide medical assistance, therapy services, and management of chronic conditions to their clients. They also assist clients by providing them with oxygen or feeding tubes, administer their medical tests, wound care, and general monitoring of health. This type of care is expensive. This is a good option for those who do not want to relocate to skilled nursing communities. Their regular medical needs such as dialysis, blood sugar test, and physical therapy are provided at home.
- Nursing homes
Nursing homes are residential facilities that are created to meet the needs of seniors with chronic diseases. Older adults are more likely to be diagnosed with chronic disease than any other age group. According to the National Institute on Aging, almost 85% of seniors have been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition. Cognitive impairments and loss of mobility are the common health risks associated with aging. Seniors suffering from all these conditions can opt for nursing homes for them. Nursing homes can provide them good quality medical care from doctors and nurses. CDC stated that 1.3 million Americans are residents of skilled nursing homes. Skilled medical care is provided round the clock in nursing homes. The health of residents is focused more than lifestyle but basic living facilities are provided in skilled nursing homes. Following types of medical care are provided in this type of residential community.
- Personal care assistants provide services related to daily life and housekeeping. They can assist their clients in eating, walking, bathing, and dressing.
- Skilled care is provided by skilled nurses and physicians. They provide seniors with regular medical procedures and treatments.
- Rehabilitative care is provided to the patients suffering from an acute injury, illness, or medical condition. This type of care is more intensive that needs more assessments and reviews.
In the United States, nursing homes are the most expensive senior living option. Their shared room costs $7,750 per month and the private room costs $8,820 per month. Cost may vary depending upon the location and facilities. Some financial assistance programs are needed to meet the high cost of nursing homes. Some part of the cost of nursing homes can be covered by Medicare but there are some conditions. Medicare covers the full cost of a nursing home for 20 days and some portion of the cost for 100 days. No coverage is offered after 100 days. If an older adult was not first treated in a hospital, Medicare does not provide any coverage and they provide coverage in their approved nursing homes. Medicaid, veteran benefits, long-term care insurance, life insurance, and a reverse mortgage can also provide different types of coverage for nursing homes.
- Alzheimer’s care
