Long-term care is one of the most challenging things to think about when it comes to aging parents. It’s a hard conversation to have with loved ones who will soon need more care than they can manage on their own.
But it’s a growing issue as our Baby Boomer generation ages. People reaching the age of 65 years old have an almost 70% chance of needing some form of long-term care services or support throughout the rest of their lifetime.
What does the future look like for our aging parents? What will it look like for currently younger generations when it’s time for them to age gracefully under care?
Here are a few trends to keep in mind when facing aging and long-term care situations.
When is Long Term Care Needed?
It is sometimes tricky to know when long-term care is necessary. If your parents or other loved ones experience severe health deterioration leaving them unable to care for themselves, it’s time.
Consider long-term care if your aging parents or loved ones suffer from:
Alzheimer’s
Dementia
Severe impairment from a heart attack or stroke
A progressing chronic disease
Injuries from an accident or fall
Renal Failure
Hearing or vision deterioration
Long-term care ranges from a significant rehabilitation stay to permanent living situations.
Evaluating trends in future health care services can help you decide how to best care for aging or severely injured parents and loved ones.
Home Care
As the need for elderly care increases with a growing aging population, home care is becoming a more common solution.
This is a different way of thinking for the long-term care of loved ones. The standard procedure usually has someone placed into a nursing facility or assisted living home when they can no longer care for themselves on their own.
Of course, capacity is a growing concern. The increasing size of an aging population might quickly fill available spaces in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
But How Viable is Home Care?
It’s important to make sure the home is the best place for your loved one to receive the best care for their situation.
With advances in medical technology and home health care services, it’s possible to arrange the right long-term care. But, costs could be an issue when arranging medical assistance, equipment, and skilled nursing for the long haul.
Homes often require handicap accessories and modifications to accommodate wheelchairs. It can get expensive to have a home fitted to accommodate for the needs of the disabled and elderly.
The average retired adult has likely seen their retirement funds shrink over the past decade. Unless you and your family have planned for the expense of home care assistance, long-term care costs could exceed income.
The technology and availability of home health care will continue to develop. If the comfort of living at home with adequate care is within your budget, it’s a great way to live your later years.
But when living at home with medical assistance, we must also consider the impact on caregivers.
Caregiver Support
Quality of life is a top priority when planning long-term care for aging parents. And this priority applies to the caregivers as well as the person receiving care.
Can they receive the care required for the best quality of life while at home? Is the spouse also receiving the care and support they need?
We often overlook caregivers when considering long-term care options. They must adjust their comfort and lifestyle when transitioning a home into a long-term care situation.
And it’s not a paying job. In 2009, the estimated value of unpaid caregiver support in the home was $450 billion.
It takes a village. Spouses, children, neighbors, friends, and others contribute to a community support system. But the biggest toll is usually on the spouse or children of aging parents when choosing long-term care at home.
If you are caring for a loved one with health needs at home, it’s critical to find support for yourself. Connect with other caregivers in your area. Find a support group.
Your good health and well-being become critical when a loved one depends on you for care. Be sure to factor your needs as well as your loved one when considering home care as a long-term care solution.
In an Emergency
As we age or deal with serious injury, our health situations become fragile. Emergencies can quickly become life or death situations.
When caring long term for a loved one at home, be sure you are near emergency services. Is your home near a hospital? Can 911 reach you without delay in an emergency?
Those in need of long-term medical care have no time to spare in an emergency. Put an emergency plan in place when choosing home care as your long-term care option.
If a home isn’t equipped for emergencies and within easy access to emergency services, it might not be the ideal place for long-term care.
Choose a Community for Aging and Long Term Care
We dream of growing old and living our golden years in our dream home. While that option is available for some, make sure you make the best choice for aging and long-term care.
Surround yourself and loved ones with a community of care designed for our aging population. The isolation that often comes with providing care at home can be a hardship on both your loved one and caregivers.
Medilodge is a leading provider of long-term skilled nursing care. We handle a wide range of conditions that come with aging minds and bodies. We focus care on each individual need. Our services include 24-hour nursing care, direct ER admittance, and close proximity to hospitals.
We can’t match all of the comforts of home. But we do our best to provide home comforts to our patients. They’ll enjoy gourmet food, warmly decorated rooms, and comfortable places for families to visit.
Contact us for a private tour or additional information about our facility.
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