According to Statistics Canada, about one-third of Canadians aged 85 and older require long-term care, also known as complex care. Are you looking for a long-term care solution for your aging parents and not sure if this is à good fit for them?
Complex care is a step up from home care and independent living. Keep reading to find out if this is the best option for your loved ones and the complex care solutions available to you in British Columbia.
What Is Complex Care?
Complex care is also known as continuing care and long-term care. It provides dedicated services for seniors with disabilities and chronic illnesses, as well as those recovering from treatment in a hospital.
Some seniors consider complex senior care a last resort. Yet, it can do much to improve their quality of life and comfort levels at this life stage.
Complex care includes assistance from specialized medical personnel and an on-site physician. The level of care provided and length of stay depends on the patient’s treatment requirements.
Most importantly, everyone employed at these facilities knows what matters most to elderly people. They go out of their way to accommodate their needs and circumstances.
They’re well-versed in the complexities of aging and the unique challenges faced by elderly people. These carers adjust their methods to suit each patient, which helps them feel at ease and facilitates a better quality of life.
Only patients experiencing intensive clinical issues or requiring end-of-life care usually undergo an extended stay at a complex care facility. These issues may include:
- Severe, ongoing behavioural problems
- Moderate to severe cognitive impairments
- Physical dependency
- A need for professional nursing care or a program to improve functional ability
- Multiple disabilities
- Require ongoing monitoring
If you need help paying for the care your loved ones need, the Province of British Columbia does offer publicly funded programs.
What To Expect From a Complex Care Facility
Before checking into a complex care facility, seniors must undergo an extensive assessment by a physician. This is to determine the best type of care for their needs.
The criteria for admission to a continuing care facility include the need for:
- Care that you can’t adequately provide at home
- 24-hour supervision from a professional nurse
- Avoiding significant risks in their current living environment
- Long-term care or medical supervision
- Treatment for an existing or previous disability and dependency, whether remedial or not
- A caregiver or more advanced caregiving facilities
- Protecting caregivers from unacceptable risk
Professional caregivers will take the patient’s cognitive functions as well as their ability to perform daily tasks into consideration before prescribing a treatment plan for them.
Complex Care Solutions Offered
Complex care comprises a suite of therapeutic, diagnostic, interdisciplinary, and technological services. These cater to a wide range of cerebral and physical impairments resulting from things like cancer, dementia, and stroke.
These facilities focus on the following:
- Assistance with pain management and special feeding systems
- Providing transitional care until the senior can progress to a lower level of care
- Compassionate end-of-life care for seniors and their families
Seniors who need assistance with the above, need ongoing, time-consuming and hands-on care and attention from their carers. Complex care services can do much to alleviate the stress and worry associated with caring for a senior citizen on your own.
Complex care services include:
Intermediate Care
Intermediate care centres around people who aren’t in critical condition, but are not well enough to live on their own. It includes nursing and supportive care under the direction of a physician.
Extended Care
This service addresses the needs of people with chronic conditions that prevent them from living independently. It includes medical as well as non-medical treatments.
Respite Care
Respite care serves seniors recovering from health instances like a hospital stay or surgery. It’s usually a temporary measure but can serve as an introduction to a full-time care situation.
Dementia Care
Conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease can pose serious risks to those who suffer from these ailments. They need ongoing monitoring and care to ensure they aren’t a danger to themselves or inexperienced carers.
Palliative Care
Palliative care suits seniors with life-threatening conditions or severe illnesses. It’s focused on alleviating symptoms and improving the patient’s quality of life.
Ongoing Assessments
The complex care facility assigns a case manager to each patient in their care. The role of this professional is to collaborate with the care team, patient, and their family.
As treatment progresses and the patient’s needs change, the case manager will refine it to suit their current needs. In some cases, they might even recommend that the patient return to living at home, if it’s safe for them to do so.
The goal of every complex care program is to help the patient restore as much function as possible, so they may return to their community. If the patient needs continued assistance, they might move to a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Depending on the complex care centre you choose, seniors may also enjoy a range of extra amenities and services. These include:
- Three balanced meals daily
- Housekeeping services
- Suitable games and activities
- Birthday and holiday celebrations
- Comprehensive medication management
- Assistance with daily tasks like eating or bathing
As far as possible, these centres aim to ensure consistent staff. This encourages seniors to build comfortable, trusting relationships with their carers. Family visits and visits from pets are also encouraged.
Find the Best Care for Your Loved Ones
If your parents are experiencing ongoing struggles with their health and require care beyond what you can offer them, it’s in their best interests to get the professional help they need.
Committing to complex care can help them enjoy the best quality of life possible. It will certainly help you find relief from constant worries about their welfare.
Reach out to one of our community relations managers today to discuss suitable complex care solutions for your loved one.