Deciding which type of senior care is best for your loved one can be difficult. Their exact needs and preferences will dictate what level of care they need and what facility will be the best option. Knowing the different types of living facilities and what all they can offer is a great start to finding the best place for your elderly loved one. Don’t go at it alone, let us find the perfect fit for your individual circumstances.
In-Home Care- Home care includes any professional support services that allow a person to live safely in their home. In-home care services can help someone who is aging and needs assistance to live independently; is managing chronic health issues; is recovering from a medical setback; or has special needs or a disability. Professional caregivers such as nurses, aides, and therapists provide short-term or long-term care in the home, depending on a person's needs.
Independent Senior Housing- The goal of independent senior living is to give you the freedom to live on your own with the comfort of knowing you will be taken care of when when you need it.
Some of the amenities offered to residents include:
24 Hour Emergency Call Lights
Weekly Housekeeping Services
Maintenance Services
Daily Activities
Meals
Laundry Services
Utilities
Security Services
Socialization
Transportation for physician appointments, shopping and entertainment
In summary, “independent living” may sometimes imply an active and independent lifestyle, free of the need for assistance with daily needs. In other cases, it may mean that a frailer senior living resident is receiving the support services necessary to help them remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.
Board & Care- A board and care home is a licensed 24-hour care property. Often within someone's personal home, these senior living homes offer room, board, 24-hour staffing, care services and assistance with things such as bathing, dressing, medication management other forms of personal care. Generally there are 6 residents in each home. These homes are carefully monitored by the Department of Social Services of the State of California.
Generally, board and care homes offer closer monitoring of residents as the caregiver ratio is usually 1 or 2 caregivers to 6 residents. They offer home cooked meals, but not a wide variety of menu choices or activities.
Board and care homes may be a better fit for elderly loved ones who:
Prefer a cozy, intimate, and homelike environment
Need some help with everyday tasks like dressing and bathing but don’t need 24-hour skilled care
Want a home with fewer residents, which allows for more interaction and attention from staff
Would enjoy a relaxed, unstructured environment
Want the privacy of a bedroom without all the responsibilities of an entire apartment, like housekeeping
Assisted Living Facilities /Residential Care: Assisted living provides daily care in a comfortable environment for those who are no longer able to live on their own safely. In an assisted living facility, residents can maintain some independence while getting the personal care support services such as meals, bathing, dressing, and medication management and it gives residents and their families piece of mind knowing there is staff available in case of an emergency. Many places even allow pets! These homes are carefully monitored by the Department of Social Services of the State of California.
Most communities offer:
24 hour staffing and emergency call system
Apartment maintenance and utilities
Comfortable studio, 1-bedroom or 2 bedroom apartment options
Convenient transportation with wheelchair access to scheduled activities and appointments
Individual heating and AC controls
On-site activities and entertainment
Restaurant style dining (breakfast, lunch and dinner) with diabetic options
Varied fitness programs
Daily housekeeping, laundry & linen service
Medication Management
Dressing and Bathing Assistance
Assistance with Eating
Incontinence Care
Some communities have expanded their services to include:
Diabetes Management, which includes injections · Colostomy & Catheter care which includes indwelling catheter care
Blood pressure checks
Hospice Care
Oxygen monitoring
Hoyer lifts
Wound Care
Complex medication management
Memory Care- Memory care communities provide care that allows each resident to live a life filled with meaning and purpose. They preserve the dignity, skills, and interests of your loved one so they can live an optimum life.
Memory care homes provide those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia with care tailored to their unique needs. Staff members undergo specialized training in caring for those with memory impairment. Social activities are also designed to engage them at their level of abilities to enhance their quality of life.
Because of the specialized staff training and resources required to provide high-quality memory care, memory care typically costs more than other types of residential care. On average, memory care will cost 20-30% more than assisted living.
Memory care can be provided in small Board and Care Homes as well as larger Residential Care Facilities.
