One of the most difficult challenges of a dementia diagnosis can be managing home care and living arrangements. Creating a safe and stable living environment for the care recipient is critical as it can impact the effectiveness of all other care. If the care recipient doesn’t feel comfortable in the living situation, then the rest of their care may be negatively impacted. No two instances of dementia are the same and each situation requires thoughtful evaluation and full consideration of all extenuating circumstances.
When taking care of a loved one with dementia, families will often ask themselves the question of whether it is better to age their loved one at home or consider an option of senior living.
Part of what makes this a complicated question is that senior living is not one thing, there are many different types of senior living and people also use the terminology differently. Care at home can similarly be introduced at different levels depending on your need.
Some things to consider when deciding on the best living arrangements for your loved one:
- Safety – The need for constant supervision and safety measures will be a determinant for the living arrangements of a loved one. Individuals with dementia may wander away from their homes or could engage in potentially harmful behaviors due to their lack of awareness of their surroundings.
- Emotional Health – Caregivers understandably give emotional energy to the person receiving care and so they need to also be thinking of their own emotional wellbeing. If caregivers do not consider their own mental health when managing care, the quality of care received may decline.
- Social Interaction and Engagement – Keeping your loved one with dementia socially engaged can be of tremendous importance to the progression of the disease. An assisted living facility, home health aides, or community events for those with memory loss may provide the social activity needed to maintain balanced health.
With all of this in mind, let’s look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of home care and senior living.
Why might home care be a good idea?
- Choosing to age your loved one at home allows the person to stay in their own home and among familiar surroundings.
- Remaining at home provides an ability to introduce care at your own pace and therefore makes it easier if your loved one is in denial or is resistant to accepting help.
- Aging in place can often be cheaper, especially in the earlier stages of dementia.
- Choosing care at home allows you to create one-on-one personal care.
- It can be easier to monitor the quality of care given within a home.
What are important considerations of choosing to age your loved one at home?
- As your loved one’s health and wellbeing decline it will become more challenging to age them at home.
- Safety is also a significant consideration. If the home environment is not conducive to home care (too many stairs or no restrooms available on each floor), then it may be best to consider other options.
- Cost and what is covered by insurance are major determinants.
If your loved one has substantial mobility difficulties, aging at home can become especially challenging. Activities of daily living, that can include bathing, transferring in and out bed, can become more complex as care reaches its later stages.
Managing the scheduling of professional caregivers and other professionals who visit the home can be incredibly time consuming and stressful. Luckily Lizzy Care is here to solve that exact problem by handling the management of scheduling for you.
As the main caregiver in a home care setting, you have to become a care manager and oversee medical care, home care companies, personal care, and all other facets of maintaining your loved one’s quality of life. It is a major undertaking, but can be done successfully with the right plan and support in place.
Every circumstance is unique and so senior living may be the right choice for your family. Let’s look at what is involved.
What are the different senior living options?
- Independent living is an age restricted community that features organized activities and events. It can provide some services like transportation and meal preparation to its residents. Residents live self-sufficiently and don’t require one-on-one care.
- Assisted living communities provide medical care and related services like medication management and help with personal hygiene. Residents live in their own apartments within the community.
- Memory care units are specialized just for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Staff help patients at meal time and with personal hygiene tasks. The unit works to provide routines and structure to help them in daily living. Staff are also specially trained to work with someone with dementia.
When might you consider a move to senior living?
There is not a right or wrong time to move to senior living, so there can be some confusion or uncertainty when it’s time to make the move.
If your loved one is no longer safe in their own home or requires more intensive or complex care, then it may be the right time. Senior living can provide more advanced care and have doctors and nurses on call that can visit them on short notice.
What are some upsides to senior living?
- As a caregiver, you gain back more time and are no longer “on call” on a 24/7 basis.
- Well managed and attentive facilities provide stimulus and activities.
- One payment covers most expenses.
- Personal care, such as hairdressing, is done on site.
What are the downsides of moving to senior living?
- There is a huge variety in the quality of care at different nursing homes.
- They can be incredibly expensive.
- You lose control over the decision making for your loved one.
- Oftentimes there is a decline in their cognitive state and wellbeing after moving.
- Depending on the facility, you might find staff are spread too thin and aren’t able to provide the dedicated support you can achieve at home.
Summary
Whether you choose home care or an assisted living facility for your loved one, considering a few factors can help assure that you’ve made the best decision. By considering emotional and physical health, along with socialization and safety, you can find an optimal solution that works best for your loved one and the family as a whole. It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong answer. Every family and circumstance is different.
At Lizzy Care, we provide a coach who will work with you and your family to help you work through the decision process. Your coach can guide you through making the home a safe and comfortable environment or they can assist with evaluating and deciding on a senior living facility. They will help you understand the different options available so you can feel assured in your decision.
