From Home Care To Nursing Homes: Types Of Elderly Care Services

Caring for elderly people is by no means easy, as they will require a lot of help. And this can often be a challenge for their families. As such, they might need services like home health care and the like. Let’s take a look at the different forms of care and what each has to offer for patients.

Hospice Care

Elderly Care Services No. 1: Home Health Care

As the name implies, this type of elderly care is done right in the patient’s home. The service provider assigns a health care specialist to handle the senior patient’s daily medical needs. The specialist is skilled in conducting medical procedures like: 

  • Monitoring the patient’s vital signs
  • Administering medication
  • Assisting with medical equipment operation (ventilators, artificial prosthetics, etc.)
  • Other tasks as directed by the patient’s doctor

Because these require a good amount of medical knowledge, home health care specialists undergo extensive training. They also work carefully with the patient’s family to develop a suitable home care plan. 

Aside from providing patient care, in home care companies also offer custodial services. This involves things like household and yard work, running errands, and personal care. Such services are available for patients who are living alone or for families who need to work. 

Elderly Care Services No. 2: Adult Day Care Service

This senior care service is similar to home health services in that it is typically delivered at the patient’s residence. However, adult daycare services are only available during the daytime hours. The assigned health care provider may also come in on a weekly basis instead of daily or in an agreed upon schedule.

There are two subtypes of senior daycare services that patients can avail of. The first is adult day health care. This provides all the medical care that the patient needs. Patients can also get custodial services as needed. 

The other kind of adult daycare focuses on social care. It supervises senior patients during the day through a structured schedule. Caregivers can also accompany the patients when doing the activities they want to do. Families availing of this service typically use it to allow the informal caregiver (family members) to have some rest and respite.

elderly care

Know The Benefits Of Home Health Care

Elderly Care Services No. 3: Independent and Assisted Living Communities

If the senior patient is still strong enough and wants to live on their own, they can sign up for this option. Independent living facilities are large residential complexes where seniors can rent apartment units. Aside from the opportunity of living on their own, another draw of these options is for seniors to live and interact with others in their age group. 

There is generally no extensive medical care provided in such facilities, as each senior is expected to be able to support their own medical needs. However, it might still be attached to a senior care provider that will dispense medical help as requested. 

Senior assisted living is a step up from independent living ones. The goal is still to provide the elderly with the opportunity to live on their own. But the facility also offers an extensive assistance program that is available round the clock. Here, residents can avail themselves of personal care workers as they need it. 

Elderly Care Service No. 4: Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are the type that people will most often associate with senior care. These facilities provide round-the-clock care for elderly patients. They typically cater to patients who are already of advanced age (70 years old and up) or those who have conditions that make it hard for them to do day-to-day activities. 

There are three different forms of care services that a nursing home provides. 

  • Basic care: Licensed practical nurses provide patients with daily living needs. 
  • Skilled nursing care: Registered nurses handle the needs of the patients. Additional personnel like speech and physical therapists might also be present depending on the patient’s condition. 
  • Sub-acute care: This provides a comprehensive care program for patients, including regular medical treatment and care reviews conducted by attending staff. 

Aside from these three major types, nursing homes might also provide dedicated care programs for patients with specific conditions. Mental care is one such specialized department a nursing home can have. This one caters to patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or age-related impaired memory. 

Senior Care Service No. 5: Continuing Care Facilities

Continuing care services are facilities that cater to seniors that have declining health. These offer the widest array of services to meet the patient’s changing needs. They are also suited for patients who wish to remain in a single location. 

One of the programs these facilities offer is palliative care. This program helps lessen the symptoms and discomfort an elderly patient is experiencing. Patients are given a custom health care regimen that matches their needs and requests. 

Aside from medical care, the continuing care facility can also provide support services. The patient’s family can get orientation sessions to better understand the care program being administered. They may also be given emotional counseling to help them come to terms with their loved one’s condition. 

Beyond palliative care, a continuing care facility can also provide a hospice service. This is a special service designed for terminally-ill patients. Its goal is mainly to provide the patient with a suitable environment to spend their remaining days in. The service also offers emotional and spiritual help for the senior patient’s family to cope with their imminent passing, as well as bereavement service.

Eldery Care

Choosing the Right Service From The Different Forms Of Care

Deciding on which of the various elderly care options to go with will depend largely on the needs of the patient. Home health care is best for seniors who want to remain close to their families. Meanwhile, elders who are living alone might want to opt for independent living communities and the chance to engage with other seniors, 

However, you should also take into account other considerations like budget and location. It would help to go for elder care providers like Amavi that have different forms of care available. This way, you can switch care programs as your elderly loved one’s needs and wishes change.

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