Sending an elderly family member to a retirement home is rarely an easy task, especially if you’ve been living with and caring for him or her for a long time. There are instances, however, when this is the only option that will work best for all the parties involved.
Why do people send their elderly loved ones to live in a retirement home?
One of the common reasons is that the senior relative develops needs, like 24-hour monitoring or assistance, that other family members can no longer provide. The caregivers also have to work to earn a living, so it’s usually not feasible for them to stay home all day and look after their elderly. Difficult though it may be, many of us are forced to start looking for a retirement home for our elderly grandparents, parents, uncles, or aunts to live out the rest of their lives. The only thing we can do at this point is to make the selection wisely so our loved ones can live the remainder of their lives in relative comfort.
What retirement options are available for your elderly loved one?
Before you begin the process of looking for a retirement home, try to become familiar with the different options available. Retirement homes are generally classified into two: residential and nursing. Residential retirement homes are basically living spaces for elderly individuals who don’t have too many special needs. In these homes, they have a lot of freedom to socialize with each other and to move around on their own. While the attendants in these homes are not always certified nurses, they are qualified to provide care to the elderly.
Nursing retirement homes, on the other hand, offer more vigilant medical care. They are better meant for elderly individuals who are suffering from advanced dementia or coping with the aftereffects of stroke, cancer, or another major life-changing illness. The attendants in a nursing retirement home are licensed nurses who are well-trained in providing routine care to the elderly. They are also able to handle various kinds of medical emergencies.
How to find the right retirement home for your elderly loved one?
These days, you can easily find information on retirement homes by visiting their respective websites. The best way to make the right choice, however, is to visit the homes personally, preferably with your elderly family member along. This way, you can talk to the administrators face to face, have a better feel of the place, and see if it’s the right retirement home for your elderly family member. Note how your elderly relative reacts while visiting different retirement homes. Ask your loved one how he or she feels about the surroundings and the people in the home. If your elderly family member is unable to talk, notice his or her expression; something on your loved one’s face may be able to help you decide which retirement home is the right one.
How to find the best care for your elderly loved one?
After you’ve narrowed down the choices to 3 or 4 retirement homes, your final choice may come down to the quality of service provided, the qualifications of the attendants and supervisors, and the level of security offered. Consider all these factors carefully if you want your elderly family member to receive the best care possible. The decision to move your elderly family member to a retirement home may be difficult, but you can make the transition much easier for everyone by choosing a home that you know will provide nothing but the best care and assistance to your loved one.
