If managing your loved one in the evening becomes overwhelming and neither of you can find a moment’s respite, then you should know that you have multiple options. For one, instead moving your loved one to a nursing home, you can simply “package” your services by hiring an at-home care agency. With an at-home care agency, your loved one receives the benefit of the care he or she needs during the evening without having to endure the potential stress of moving from his or her home. This is a good option for those with loved one’s with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia who don’t have a nearby nursing home with personnel trained to handle individuals with those conditions.
Even though “package” services of adult day care and at home care can provide you with a convenient way to maintain regular working hours or other forms of much needed relieve, you may still want to consider a nursing home. For example, should your loved one’s condition develop to the point where he or she becomes incontinent, then you may find—very quickly—that even at-home care services cannot adequately provide you and your loved one with the break you need. If that’s the case, then you’ll definitely want to consider whether a nursing home is the right choice for you. One thing to keep in mind when making your decision about whether a nursing home is the right care for your loved one is that both you and your loved one need to preserve your quality of life. While adult day care and at home services may fulfill you and your loved one’s needs for a while, again, at one point or another you’ll likely need to consider a nursing home—especially if you continue to find that your quality of life just continues to diminish.
