SENIOR CITIZEN ASSISTANCE LIVING

Senior citizen assistance is a necessity for the number of senior citizens living in mostly Western societies where the 85-older population is expected to more than triple between now up to 2050 in the United States alone. This staggering number not only proves the growing need for senior assistance but also the fact that thousands of families also face the same dilemma of whether to put their elderly relatives in a senior nursing home or not. Sometimes, even if the family wants their elderly relative to move in with them and are willing to make adjustments and concessions, the need for a more advanced level of care that a nursing home can give must be considered.

Be sure to look online at the federal government's website on nursing homes. The site allows you to compare ratings and locations among thousands of nursing homes.

A majority of seniors are lucky to still be independent enough to require very little senior assistance especially with day to day tasks. Most seniors prefer to live out their days in their own homes but know that there will come a time when they need to move out when it becomes necessary so while they still can, many prepare ahead for this eventuality by availing of senior assistance programs that enable them to move into elder villages where they live in senior-populated communities and are cared for by volunteers.

As such, seniors who can manage to take care of their personal needs but need a little help with other things like driving or grocery shopping can avail of home health care, where experienced caregivers visit them at home and run errands and do things for them like driving them to and from doctor's appointments, cooking and serving them nutritious meals, do medication reminders, etc. It is also a set up that benefits everyone since getting an experienced and trustworthy caregiver is less expensive than having to move into a nursing home and in addition, the senior citizen's mind is at peace and feels more comfortable since they are in their own home.

senior citizens

Staying in your own home has the advantage of being in a familiar place where you know your neighbors and the community however, this is only a good option if you have a close network of nearby family or friends, if transportation other than driving is easily accessible, if the neighborhood is safe and if your home can be modified to reflect your changing needs.

It would especially be beneficial for you if in the absence of an experienced caregiver, you could use The Village concept which is a new concept that enables active senior to remain in their homes without having to rely on family and friends but instead rely on members of a "village" which can access specialized programs and services, such as transportation to the grocery store, home health care, or help with household chores, as well as a network of social activities with other village members.

"Assisted living" is a misnomer. The sit-and-pivot rule applies in assisted living facilities. To stay, the patient has to be able to sit up in bed on his own and pivot on his feet on the floor to get in and out of a wheelchair.

Sure, they'll help cut food or tie a shoelace. But that's the extent of their "assistance". They won't lift and carry anyone to and from bed.

Of course, you can also consider a residential home which is recommended for seniors who need help with some activities of daily living including help with medications. Some assisted living facilities provide apartment-style living with scaled-down kitchens while others provide rooms which you may have to share unless you're willing to pay extra not to. Most residential homes have a group dining area and common areas for socializing and doing recreational activities. Residential homes are a good solution if you need more personal care services than are feasible at home or in an independent living retirement community and if you don't need round-the-clock medical care and supervision.

Don't forget about "hospice care", which provides pain medication but nothing else. No treatments, no tests, no interventions in your last months of life... This is how I'd like to go – at home with little pain.

The highest level of senior citizen assistance however is provided by nursing homes which in addition to providing a high level of medical care, has a licensed physician that supervises each resident's care and a nurse and other medical professionals are on hand and on call 24/7. Seeking senior assistance in nursing homes is recommended if your medical and personal care needs have become too great to handle at home or in another facility.

A senior citizen's peace of mind and general well-being are often affected if they have to move out of their own homes because they see this as a loss of their independence and as being forced to face their own mortality. As much as possible, most of them would like to stay in their own homes and be independent for as long as they can. They would therefore, appreciate it better if they were provided the best senior assistance living available which you can find by making inquiries with various organizations that provide this kind of assistance and find the best that would suit your elderly relative's needs.