Question: How do you find the right care situation for an aging parent?
Answer: Many caregivers mistakenly believe they only have two options: home care or a nursing home. In fact, there are many other options that are home-based, community-based or a combination of the two.
Common types of caregiving include hiring a care manager to coordinate services, contracting with a home care agency to provide meal delivery, or paying monthly fees at a continuing care community. You'll find essential information on costs and services provided in ThirdAge's Care Resources Factsheets.
Before searching for care, make a thorough assessment of the budget available to pay for care and of your parent's needs. Determine, for example, which types of daily activities your parent needs assistance or monitoring with, any physical or medical concerns that need to be addressed, and your parent's mental acuity and emotional state.
Respite care is a good option for caregivers who need a break to prevent burnout and reduce stress. It can involve anything from an hour's walk to a weeklong cruise. Adult day health centers are another source of temporary or part-time relief from caregiving duties. These facilities can offer medical care, therapy services, social activities and noon meals.
When respite care and adult day health do not provide enough assistance, many families consider home care, one of the fastest growing segments of the health care industry. Many home health agencies provide a variety of medical, nursing and social services to help people stay out of institutions. Home care also happens to be more cost-effective for everything but 24-hour care.
More advanced levels of care can be found at assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, nursing homes and hospices. See the Care Resources Factsheets for tips on finding a provider, sample questions you might wish to ask them, and how to find the money to pay for services.
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Our interactive assessment helps you determine Your Family's Options.
