Preparations For Nursing Home Care

| Tuesday, January 21, 2014
By Kristana Jenson


When we have reached the point in our adulthood where we can no longer truly take care of our basic needs alone, it might be time to think about either assisted living or perhaps even a nursing home, if our medical needs are high. While this is stressful, there are ways to make this transition less difficult.

In some cases, a medical emergency is what triggers the need to seek out nursing home care. A bad fall or a stroke or other medical condition might require around-the-clock nursing care, and so finding a nursing home facility is an essential way to ensure that your loved one is safe and secure. In addition, nursing homes offer rehabilitative services, as well, which can certainly help improve quality of life.

In other cases, a person hasn't suffered from an injury or stroke, but declining health has required a higher amount of medical intervention to a point where constant nursing care is needed. You can hire someone to come in care for your loved one, and sometimes this is a great option. However, a nursing home offers more social opportunities and activities than you can provide in your home, and this might appeal to your loved one.

Selecting an ideal nursing home is a complicated process, but it can be easier if you go through a service such as CarePlacement.com. These services not only help you find a nursing facility, they also take into consideration the level of care that is needed as well as your budget. They will come up with a list of potential places that meet your budget and also can look for assisted living options and board & care homes, which are ideal for people with fewer medical needs that still need help with day-to-day tasks and grooming chores.

You will need to visit several nursing homes or interview several in-home care professionals before making your decision. Whenever possible, be sure to let your loved one take part in the selection process, after all, it is their life that is being affected. Obviously, this isn't always possible, so try to select a home where it is close to friends or family members so that visiting is easy. If your loved one already has friends or relatives at a specific facility, this might be a good option and can help reduce anxiety if someone they know is already in residence.

It cannot be stressed enough that this is a highly emotional move for most people, especially if the move is likely to be permanent. Losing your home and most of your belongings can be very traumatic, so be sure to bring along some highly sentimental items along. Decorate the room with family photographs and bring photo albums. Bring some comfortable blankets and pillows and perhaps even a favorite chair or a small furnishing that reminds them of home and makes their room more personal.

Visitation is another big priority or at least it should be. Your loved one will need visits and companionship particularly if they are bed-ridden or during their first few weeks at the nursing home. Once they make friends and develop a social schedule, however, they still need to see friends and family. So set up a schedule with your family to ensure that people visit regularly and also make phone calls regularly. Your loved one might not call or ask for visitors simply because they don't wish to be a burden, but they do need contact with you and others. If possible, take them on excursions from time to time. While this might not be an option because of medical issues, if it's allowable, take them out to dinner or to a family dinner or picnic. Take them to the movies or the park or simply attend some of the nursing home's social functions or meals with them.




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