Friday, April 24, 2009

Living Arrangements for Seniors with Alzheimer's

The right type of living arrangement is beneficial to the senior who is suffering from Alzheimer's. You can plan ahead by finding out living arrangements for your loved ones or senior family members with Alzheimer's. This also helps in making the right decision at the right time. Otherwise, you may end up finding a quick solution, which can go drastically wrong in the long-term. Remember, it is a challenging experience to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's. While everyone wants the best care for their loved one, very few know what type of care should be given to the person. Deciding about the living arrangement for seniors and choosing one that meets the person’s budget are informative decisions that require planning in advance. If you need help in choosing the right type of living arrangement for your parent with Alzheimer's, you will benefit by seeking the help of trained professionals. They will help you choosing the right option, which may fit well in your budget. Here is some information to help in your decision.

Independent Housing
Independent housing is not always good for someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Independent housing requires the person to totally take care of themselves with the exception of meals and usually housekeeping. This housing could work if someone came daily such as Personal Care Assistance Services to daily check on the person and watch for concerns. It does allow a person to live independently with their peers. Those with family living independently with the early stage of the disease would need to be very observant as to the time to move to a skilled care facility as the disease progressed.

Assisted Living
A majority of people choose assisted living for seniors with Alzheimer's. In assisted living the person can receive various personal care assistance, housekeeping, and transportation. Assisted living can provide a safe environment through several stages of the disease although it may not be able to assist through the later stages. Again, careful monitoring of symptoms and needs is urgent to provide the needed living environment.

Skilled Care or Nursing Homes
Skilled care or nursing homes are not the best choice for seniors with Alzheimer's disease unless there is reason for needing skilled care.. Skilled care is the recommended when other options seem no longer viable. In this case, you need to find out the Medicaid certified homes and skilled nursing facilities. Senior people require specialized attention and care, but they don not always required a nursing facilitiy.

Alzheimer’s Facility
These facilities offer special care designed to address the specific needs of seniors with Alzheimer's. They are a safe environment. They usually can handle all stages of the disease. The workers are trained and skilled in helping people with Alzheimer’s. They are helpful to families who need support and information.

Hospice Care
Hospice Care is an option for those in late stages of Alzheimer's. Hospice can help families in whatever living environment they have chosen. They ensure that the dignity and comfort of the seniors is maintained until the end of life. This type of care is often recommended by doctors to terminally ill seniors who may not love for more than six months. Many family members find it difficult to choose hospice, but many times it is an appropriate choice.

If you are looking for an environment that provides all types of care ranging from independent and assisted living to around the clock care and supervision, you can opt for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The CCRCs have a campus-like environment offering progressive care. It involves staying in the same community but moving to different buildings as needs change. Cost can be more expensive if you have to move from place to place on your own. For that reason many people choose CCRC’s.

For an easy on-line tool to help in making important decisions for your loved ones, use seniorservicematch.com. This service connects seniors to people and places that can be of help.

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