Deciding how to best care for elderly parents is never easy, particularly when they face difficulties in performing daily living activities for themselves. In an effort to resolve your responsibilities as well as meet your parents’ needs, you can unexpectedly end up facing various challenges, particularly if your loved one resides in a nursing home. Data currently suggests that only 4.5 percent of older adults or 1.5 million people live in nursing homes.
At the end of the day, you likely desire for your parents to reside in a facility which may very well be a nursing home where they will be able to thrive as well make the most of their remaining time. With these issues in mind, it’s a good idea to review and plan around all aspects of nursing home life.
Adapting to a Schedule
Nursing homes routinely provide social activities in which your loved one can engage. In many nursing homes, however, residents have substantially less freedom to venture outside of these activities than they once did. Rather than get in a vehicle and travel wherever they please, aging adults must follow the social activities established by the nursing home.
Costs that Are Higher Than Anticipated
Nursing homes often are more expensive than the care that a person might receive if they remained at home. Even though some costs are paid for by private insurance like Medicaid or Medicare, a person might determine that monthly charges are too pricey to be afford monthly. If your loved one owns their own residence and does not require extensive care and is not likely to need such intensive care in the future, having a caregiver help your loved one while they remain at their residence might be the best choice.
Life Among Others
One advantage of nursing homes is that aging individuals will live around contemporaries of similar age. This means that your elderly parents will be able to interact with and socialize. This change, however, is not always realized by people or accepted. Your elderly parents may very well have a difficult time adapting to live among others and wish they could spend more time on their own.
Reduced Input in the Care You Receive
Nursing homes rely on routines when it comes to how programs are operated as well as the level of care that residents receive. Even though you might voice concerns about your elderly parents, care plans are ultimately executed as the workers at a nursing home decide is appropriate. In-home care can be a more affordable option to nursing homes that often also is not accompanied with many of the issues unique to nursing homes
The Size of Living Arrangements
Nursing homes attempt to offer various areas throughout the facilities so residents are still able to move around. Aging loved ones, however, will likely be transitioning from their home to smaller living spaces, perhaps even smaller than your loved ones are used to. Sudden changes can lead to a more challenging transition for elderly parents who must adapt to their new location.
Contact a Knowledgeable Elder Law Attorney
Elder law is a complex area that is full of challenges for people who want to make sure that their loved ones receive the very best. One of the best ways to navigate elder law issues is to obtain the assistance of a skilled lawyer. Contact Ettinger Law Firm today to schedule a free case evaluation.