How to Decide if an Assisted Living Facility Is a Good Fit

My father has dementia and chronic medical conditions, every month he gets a UTI. IF not treated, he ends up in the ER. He is in a nursing home right now. They said he can go to a Assisted LIving facility and the md wrote discharge paper. No one in the family was notified until after the papers were signed. Everyone in the family feels he definetly needs nursing home attention. What do we do??

jamie of FL 1:14PM February 12, 2011

Great article. Both traditional media and digital media are talking about the aging of America. IMO in-home care i.e caring for loved ones in their respective homes is the best option. For seniors the thought of leaving the familiarity of home can be a scary and intimidating experience. Relocating to new surroundings can prove to be a huge lifestyle shift for anyone at any age. Homecare can mean more than just comfort, but also health and safety.

Caregivers and family members can get help and support from many local and federal agencies like

http://www.aarp.org/

http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Index.aspx

http://www.nfcacares.org/

Here is a listing of 10 federal resources which can help caregivers cope with their role as a caregiver

http://www.slideshare.net/BrightStar2010/caregiver-national-resources

Sandy 7:17AM October 12, 2010

I have interviewed the HomeInstead franchise in our area...The expense is very high and assisted living is actually less expensive...We really are at a crossroads here with my MIL...she needs help, doesn't think she does..Just got her out of the hospital; among other things, she had decided some months ago she no longer needed her potassium pills and she refuses to drink enough fluids. At $!9/hr. for in home care, we can only afford a few hours a day a couple days a week...

R. Shearer of NY 9:08PM August 11, 2010

I am a franchise owner for Home Instead Senior Care in the Portland, Oregon area. Paul's comment about the lack of awareness of in-home care is true to my experience. I think family caregivers don't tend to naturally think of in-home care, because it's hard to envision. They often are very overworked in the care role, and the natural assumption is that to get relief, the senior needs to be moved. Non-medical in-home care is a relatively new option that gives family caregivers the support they need to survive while at the same time granting the wish of the elderly loved one to "age in place." Thanks Paul and Lori for writing this book and for furthering the discussion about the variety of home care options available today.

Mike Brunt of OR 4:07PM June 01, 2010