If you have aging parents, you may find yourself worrying about the safety of your parent living at home. There are many medical conditions or health occurrences that can make it unsafe for seniors to be alone all day and night.
So, how do you know if your parents need assisted living? Or maybe you are wondering what a skilled nursing facility would offer. There are many things to consider when determining if your loved one is safe at home and identifying the living situation that will benefit your loved one’s health and happiness.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR PARENT NEEDS ASSISTED LIVING?
The safety of your loved one is the most important consideration when making a decision about living arrangements. If you have your own reasons for concerns about your loved one’s safety, consider discussing your concerns with your loved one, a trusted physician or an expert in senior care, such as a team member at Tutera Senior Living & Health Care.
If you are unsure if your elderly loved one should be living alone, here are a few questions to consider:
- Does your parent fall frequently?
- Does your parent continue to enjoy living alone, or does he or she need more opportunities for socialization?
- Does your parent maintain his or her hygiene?
- Can your parent keep up with bills and correspondence?
- Is your parent losing weight?
- Is your parent able to remember how to do simple, familiar tasks?
- Can your parent manage his or her medications?
- Does your parent have difficulty making decisions?
- Does your parent attend his or her medical appointments?
If you’re concerned about the answer to any of these questions, you may want to discuss the option of an assisted living community or a skilled nursing facility.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSISTED LIVING AND SKILLED NURSING?
An assisted living community or a skilled nursing facility are two of the most common considerations when a family thinks about safe environments for an elderly loved one. While both assisted living and skilled nursing are long-term care options that provide social, medical and personal services, there are distinct differences:
An Assisted Living Community
Assisted living communities are often the first choice for seniors who can no longer live safely at home; however, they do not provide high levels of skilled nursing care. Tutera’s Lamar Court Assisted Living Community offers assisted living care that includes daily social activities, fitness programs and a variety of health services that are available as needed.
Residents of assisted living communities, like Lamar Court, are encouraged to live as independently as possible, while they do have access to assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, medication management and grooming. Lamar Court offers both apartments and suites, as well as daily meals, fitness classes and creative, social, learning and spiritual activities.
A Skilled Nursing Facility
A skilled nursing facility is able to provide skilled nursing care for residents. This type of care includes daily therapy services, rehabilitation or specialized medical care. While some skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) offer short-term or temporary stays, many are long-term facilities. Tutera’s The Village at Mission offers both rehabilitation and extended stay services that include multiple therapies to help our prospective residents regain their strength and independence.
Seniors often choose to move to a skilled nursing facility following a long illness, hospitalization, surgery or major health event, like a stroke. For some seniors, skilled nursing becomes a permanent home and they receive medically intensive care from professionally licensed personnel.
If you are considering a skilled nursing facility or an assisted living community, it can be helpful to visit one in your community in person to learn more. All Tutera Senior Living & Health Care communities offer phone consultations and in-person tours to help prospective residents and their families understand our culture and environment.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Founded in 1983, Tutera Senior Living & Health Care now boasts numerous senior communities across the South and Midwest to cater to your needs. All of our communities are committed to helping you improve your quality of life. Our residents find comfort in the variety of amenities offered through our independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and respite care programs. And, through our YOUNITE philosophy, our staff gets to know every resident on a personal level, allowing them to create a uniquely relevant experience for you wrapped around a personal plan of care and life enrichment program.
Call Tutera Senior Living & Health Care at 877-988-8372 to learn more about our communities, our culture and our care!
