Senior Care Must be Adaptable

Changing a residence can be an overwhelmingly difficult task when someone is older. Moving is tough for a healthy 25 or 30 year old, so it makes sense that it can be close to unnervingly impossible when you are in your 80s or 90s. No one likes moving, but when someone suffers from cognitive impairment, that process can be even more difficult.

 

There are a number of reasons for this, but putting aside the case studies and what the researchers say, moving is difficult. The older you are, the tougher it becomes. Moving causes physical and mental stress, and if you are already in a weakened condition because of a physical or cognitive disability, moving could cause a decline in health. Senior care is necessary for more than half of senior citizens at some point in their lives, and getting it right the first time can save additional stress later on.

 

But what does this mean for you right now? It means that you want to use a care service that has the resources to be flexible. You want to use a service that has the tools and the staff to adapt as your mom or dad’s needs change. The type of care that they need now might not be the same type of care that they need in five years. It’s impossible to see what the future holds for anyone, but by going with a care service that has the ability to adapt, you can help your mom or dad now, and later down the road, too.

 

Larger care services that employ, train, and insure their staff have a much better capacity for providing this for you than an independent caregiver will.

 

Whatever type of senior care you choose for your loved one, make sure it is adaptable to their changing needs.

 

Moving is inevitable in many cases. But by planning ahead with senior care, you can begin to reduce the need for a move. Picking an assisted living facility that specializes in memory care, for example, can eliminate the need to move if your loved one begins to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Certain in-home care services can also fulfill this same function. This is why it’s important that you know what you are paying for before you sign up for a service. For example, going with a caregiver that is not backed by a professional care service might be cheaper upfront, but the long term costs on your family can be rough. They may not have the proper training to provide high quality memory care for your mom or dad, which means that you will need to find a new source of senior care.

 

Planning ahead like this cuts down on stress for you, your loved one in need, and everyone else involved in the decision making process. Finding senior care is already stressful, but taking some time and finding the best care now will go a long way. Versatility is one of those things that is often overlooked, but it will help you to provide a continuity of care for your loved one well into the future.

The post Senior Care Must be Adaptable appeared first on Paradise In-Home Care.