By the latest estimate, the average annual cost for a nursing home in Canada was around $35,608. With such a high price, you should expect the best quality care for your ageing loved one.
However, the best type of care for seniors isn’t just determined by the quality of care. It is also determined by the exact types of senior care homes that loved ones put their elderly relatives in. This is because some seniors require less or more complex care than others.
To provide the best level of care for your loved one, you need to know the difference between all senior living options. This article will help you get started with this process. Read on to learn about seven different kinds of senior care homes.
Seniors that are still relatively healthy and don’t have too many issues with mobility or memory are best suited for an independent living facility. This is a collection of apartments or homes where a group of seniors live together and socialize.
What makes an independent living community different from more complex care facilities? The seniors in one can still choose day-to-day activities and perform basic daily care like bathing and eating by themselves. Any larger chores like cleaning, repairing, and cooking are taken care of by the staff.
Some examples of daily activities include starting new hobbies and going to clubs. Many independent facilities also have weekend excursions and social events for more adventurous individuals.
One type of senior care home is the same house that seniors live in with their families. It’s not always necessary for seniors to move away from their loved ones for care. Instead, the situation can be modified so that the senior relative can live more comfortably.
Often, family members can provide any care that’s required. If they’re too busy with work, however, they can hire services such as in-home caregivers and meal delivery services.
Adding certain home features can also help a senior family member get around. Family members can instal wheelchair ramps, bathroom grab bars, etc. to give older adults more independence.
A village concept is similar to ageing in place in that the senior individuals don’t want to or can’t leave their homes. The main difference is that the people who need care don’t want or need much assistance. They may also not want to bother their family members with requests for care.
Instead, seniors will pay for a “village membership”. By doing so, they will be able to access the services they need when they need or want them. Services in question can include housekeeping, home maintenance, transportation, and so on.
In addition, the members of a village program may also participate in regular organized social activities. This can help prevent elderly individuals from having to experience the negative effects of social isolation.
Assisted living facilities can be similar to independent living facilities. There are still daily activities, and housekeeping and cooking are handled. The main difference is how involved the staff of these facilities are with the lives of seniors.
The care staff of assisted living facilities often help seniors with certain personal tasks. They may make sure that the seniors get all the daily medical treatments that they need such as taking medications. They may also need to assist seniors with personal care tasks such as dressing, bathing, and eating.
24/7 emergency services are also often available to help elderly patients should they get injured.
Respite care services are often shorter-term versions of senior care home or in-home caregiver services. Usually, the main purpose of these services is to give an in-home caregiver, like a family member, a break. Taking care of an ill or disabled elderly family member is often a 24/7 job and, like all jobs, frequent breaks can keep workers performing at their best levels.
There are a few different kinds of respite care. Many places offer short-term versions of assisted living care, such as adult day care centres or week- or month-long facility stays. Family members can also hire in-home caregivers to care for their loved ones while they are away.
Often, it’s not enough for elderly individuals to be cared for by caregivers alone. They may need licensed medical professionals to provide for all of their needs. This is especially the case if they’re dealing with certain illnesses.
One thing to keep in mind is that no two skilled nursing facilities are exactly alike. They may differ from each other in the kinds of illnesses that they treat. For example, one nursing facility may specialise more in providing care for memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s, while another may provide better care for stroke victims.
A Continuing Care Retirement Community essentially offers the best of all types of senior care homes, from independent living to skilled nursing. This type of facility can be very useful for senior residents who see themselves spending a long time in retirement.
If their care needs change as they get older, they can easily just transition to a section of the CCRC that will provide them with more care.
The main downside of this type of facility is it is often the most expensive when it comes to entrance fees and monthly costs. In addition, the monthly costs can increase as the residents’ need for care gets more complex.
Be sure to not just limit your research to the information available on this list. There are a lot of smaller details that you need to know to provide the absolute best possible care for your loved one. For the sake of their continuing comfort, put in all the work you can.
Also, as you’re searching for senior care homes in Canada, be sure to look at our senior living options. Our retirement communities offer a wide variety of senior care, from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing and more. Contact us today to learn more about our programs.