Making the choice to move an aging loved one into long term care can be a daunting task.
Here's some important information to help make that decision a little easier!
A personal care home is usually a residence or building designed with all of the amenities of a private home. Most feature living rooms and gathering areas, a residential kitchen, and family style dining rooms. Staff are on-site 24 hours a day. Some personal care homes allow residents to take their own medication, while others have certified Med Techs that administer all medications. Staff can assist with ADLs such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
A personal care home is required to keep their resident population below 25 residents per home, whereas assisted living facilities often house larger resident populations. This helps keep the caregiver to resident ratio low. One benefit is that the caregivers are able to get to know the residents' schedules, routines, and personalities, which can also help them to monitor any sudden changes in behavior or overall health. This can make the difference between life and death in the event of a major medical emergency.
Personal care homes differ from nursing homes in that there is no on-site nursing staff. Personal care homes offer the residents independence in keeping their regular doctors and specialists. Some offer transportation to appointments, while many families take their loved ones to the doctor themselves so that they can stay on top of their medical needs.
Because residents tend to be more independent, personal care homes are able to offer activities both in house and off property. Our residents here at Stonehenge Senior Living love going to the movies, out to lunch, and most recently to the park! Our residents also love art, bingo, and tea parties! Click here to see what activities our residents have been enjoying lately.
Personal care homes offer private rooms and bathrooms. Many offer main level, upstairs or downstairs rooms, with chair lifts available to make stairs a non-issue! For more independent seniors, upstairs rooms like this one here at Stonehenge Senior Living offer more space and privacy.
Choosing the right long term care option for your loved one is a task that takes time, research, prayer, and maybe a few tears. Whatever you choose, don't allow yourself to feel guilty, instead focus on the peace that comes with knowing your loved one is in a safe environment that is better equipped to meet their needs. That gives you more time to enjoy making memories with your senior!