Board And Care: A Possible Eldercare Option

| Saturday, April 19, 2014
By Rue Nichols


There are many different types of eldercare, from assisted living communities to skilled nursing facilities to hiring in-home care or opting for a board and care facility. The board and care option also is sometimes called a residential care home or an adult family home. This option can be a good option for many senior adults who no longer can or wish to live alone. Here is a little bit of information about this eldercare option.

These board and care homes accommodate only a maximum of six residents at a given time and are typically located in fairly large residential homes. Staff members can be seen on site 24 hours a day and sometimes there is extra staff on hand during the day. This can give any resident no reason to worry should there be any need of assistance in the middle of the night as there are people around to respond to emergencies.

Nursing care is not provided, but residents can be helped with many daily tasks and chores. For example, laundry and housekeeping generally is included in the monthly costs. A staff member can help residents with dressing, grooming, and bathing and toileting tasks. The bathrooms also should be equipped with safety bars and generally these homes are handicap accessible to make life as easy as possible for residents. While medical care rarely is an option at a board and care home, medication management often is included. Meal service also is included, as well.

One is likely to find board and care homes as great options if one wishes to be with a more personal and homey atmosphere yet get the help on daily tasks. Assisted living communities are much more expensive choices over this and nursing homes can feel fairly institutional. Most seniors choose a nursing home over assisted living facilities or board and care though because they can pay with government assistance programs which they can't do in other types of eldercare facilities.

The downside to board and care is that this is a less social environment than you'd find in an assisted living setting and generally there are fewer amenities. Generally, residents have a private bedroom, but it's not like the apartments and studios you would find in assisted living. Of course, while there are fewer options, the smaller number of residents also means each resident should receive more personal attention and care. Although, there certainly are some board and care homes that provide an assortment of activities and amenities.

Try and inquire about the experience level of the board and care homes you go to from each of their staff members. References from people you know may also help you in your search for the right board and care. Make sure you ask about the security features in each home you look into along with how clean the kitchen and common areas are. Talking to the residents will give you an idea of how content they are or how much they enjoy the facility they are in. Having more options would surely help you determine which home could be the best match for you or a loved one. San Diego board and care or Orange County board and care searches can be made easier if you try the service like Care Placement as this can match you with pre-screened homes apt for your budget and needs.




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