For some families making care decisions for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, at home care is just not a feasible option. A number of reasons could come into play: lack of caregiver, lack of insurance coverage for in-home care, unsuitable living space and so on. Depending on the level of care required, there are various options for care outside of the home. Most often, assisted living facilities and nursing homes are the most logical choices.
For those in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, skilled nursing care may not be required. Assisted living facilities are often a good first choice for those just transitioning out of the home and into a professional care environment.
Not all assisted living facilities are suitable for patients with deteriorating mental capacities. When you look at assisted living facilities, try to imagine how a patient with dementia will cope.
- Is there a safe place for an agitated or confused elder to go outside of his or her room?
- Is there at lease one enclosed outdoor area?
- Can a patient with dementia safely wander around?
- Although it might not be needed right away, does the facility offer a more advanced and supervised memory unit for when the disease progresses?
The benefit to facilities with dedicated memory units is that the staff will be more experience and specifically trained to work with people with dementia. Usually this indicates that the quality of care your loved one receives will be more extensive, and often more compassionate as the disease progresses.
