If you have been tasked with overseeing the care of your aging parents, it can be an extremely stressful time, notwithstanding one of confusion. You have never had to see to the care of elderly people before and these are the very people who raised you with all the love and compassion that could be expected of anyone. Now it’s your turn to care for them but the level of care they need is beyond your scope of understanding.
Maybe they are suffering from memory loss and their level of cognition has slipped in recent years. Perhaps they can manage some of their daily tasks, and maybe not at other times. The one thing you do know is that you simply don’t have the ability to care for them at home, so what are your options? If you don’t understand the various options open to you and which would be best suited for these people you love literally more than life, perhaps a short guide on the various levels of care might help you choose what is best for mom and dad.
Where to Find Definitions for Care-Related Terms
You have been reading about senior living residences that range from Independent Living all the way up through advanced levels of care much like our understanding of what it means to be in a nursing home with around-the-clock care seven days a week. However, what is Assisted Living or Memory Care and how do they differ?
Perhaps you would be well-served to check out the Monarch Community Blog where you can find definitions for most of the terms you will be exposed to. These definitions should help to clarify once and for all what level of care you feel is best suited for your beloved parents. Thankfully, you will also find that they are not ‘stuck’ at one level as their conditions deteriorate, and they most likely will. A person entering Independent Living may one day need Assisted Living in which there are caregivers who oversee such things as medications and personal hygiene. Those levels really will be well-explained.
Can You Consult with Your Parents’ Physician?
This is something else you may have been reluctant to try but perhaps is also in their best interest. Their geriatric doctor will have almost always assessed their level of ‘functioning’ and can often make recommendations where they feel your parents would be best served. With that being said, you are the one who cares for them and knows them best, so if you disagree to any extent, you might want to talk to the case managers at the senior residence you would like them to live in. They may be able to help you assess your parents’ particular needs.
Can You Visit Your Parents at Will?
Sometimes the adult children of aging parents are concerned over their ability to visit their parents at will. This may vary depending on the level of care they require but, in most cases, you are probably free to come and go as you please. It may be different for those patients in palliative care in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s for example, as they are in a setting much like a hospital or nursing facility. The best advice would be to also discuss this with the senior residence prior to making up your mind where and at what level to place them.
Once you understand what all those terms mean, you will be in a much better place to make that all-important placement decision. Until then, know that the resources are out there, and you will do just fine.
