Posted on Thursday, October 12, 2017

Your Aging Parent Doesn’t Want to Go to a Nursing Home… Now What?

I’m sure your parents have probably said it to you, or maybe you’re even saying it now to your kids, “Whatever you do, don’t put me in a nursing home!” However, this can put you in a tough spot. If your parent is aging and needs more help, one of the safest places for them is a nursing home or a senior living facility. But if your parent is adamant about staying out of a nursing home, you do have other options. Here are four alternatives to nursing homes.

Assisted living

Technically speaking, assisted living facilities are not the same thing as nursing homes. Assisted livings typically have several levels of care depending on the residents needs, whereas nursing homes usually provide a higher level of care. In many assisted living facilities, residents can come and go as they please and, in some, can even have their own car. Yet there’s staff there to help them with activities of daily living, such as brushing their teeth and getting dressed. But, if your loved one views nursing homes and assisted livings as the same, this may be a hard one to convince them of.

Independent living and senior apartments

There are a lot of senior living communities that offer independent living and senior apartments. These allow your loved one to have their own space with their own private entry, and they can come and go as they please. The advantage to these kinds of apartments is that your loved one won’t have to worry about maintenance like they would at a home. These often have communal areas where seniors can meet, play cards, and eat their meals. Therefore, they still get the activity, and they will have the ability to make new friends, but they also have their privacy.

In-home care

In-home care is a great alternative to a nursing home. Your loved one has all of the comforts of being at home and the one-on-one care they deserve. Most elderly people have a hard time leaving their home and adjusting to a new place, so this is a great option.

Hospice
Hospice is for end-of-life care, but you don’t need to be in the hospital to receive it. You can be on hospice in your home. The purpose of hospice is to keep those who are dying comfortable, provide them peace, as well as assist their families through a difficult time.

Want to learn more about assisted living facilities? Get my book Easy Healthcare: Assisted Living. It’s filled with tips about finding the right assisted living facility for your loved one and moving in.

Posted on Friday, February 20, 2015

Helpful Health Care Links: February 20, 2015

Our helpful health care links focus on two hot topics in health care this week– The federal government cracking down on nursing home report cards and a California hospital exposed to antibiotic resistant ‘superbug’. Both are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

Government To Grade Nursing Homes On Tougher Scale

Starting immediately, the federal government is making it harder for nursing homes to get top grades on a public report card, in part by increasing scrutiny of their use of anti-psychotic drugs and raising the bar on an array of quality measures.

‘Superbug’ Outbreak at California Hospital, More Than 160 Exposed

A potentially deadly “superbug” resistant to antibiotics has infected seven patients, including two who died, and more than 160 others were exposed at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center through contaminated medical instruments.

We hope we have helped you SPIN YOUR HEALTHCARE YOUR WAY!

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How do you make the right decision about moving yourself or a loved one into an Assisted Living Facility without being overwhelmed? How do you even begin talking about it? HealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” ebook guide gives you all of the practical advice you need to make the right choice.

Available for download, NOW!

Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015

Independent Living No Longer An Option?

Imagine you receive a call from the hospital and you discover that your senior has just suffered a stroke. You rush to the hospital and immediately are flooded with questions by the doctors and nurses (and have your loved one’s Medical Life List on hand to help with the process). During the hospital stay, it’s determined that your loved one can no longer live on their own and you have to decide where they are going to live.

But how? You’ve heard of senior living options such as assisted living facilities and nursing homes, but what’s the difference? What’s the best option for your family member? Let’s look at the differences:

Assisted Living Facilities:

Bridge the gap between independent living and skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes
Provide a variety of services for residents who need occasional assistance with “activities of daily living” like bathing, using the bathroom, and taking medication
Focus on providing as much independence to your loved one as possible

Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Facilities:

Generally certified by your state and provides 24/7 nursing care.
Your loved one will likely need a nursing home if he or she is bed bound, on a respirator, requires wound care, or needs daily nursing care.
Best suited for individuals who require round-the-clock care for complex medical needs.

Depending on what your senior’s new needs are, one of these options will be better than the other. It’s important to know how each is different so you can choose the best option for your loved one.

We hope we have helped you SPIN YOUR HEALTHCARE YOUR WAY!

For more information, please check out HealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility”. It is a practical guide to making the right decisions for seniors when living independently is no longer an option.