Requirements and living conditions change for aging adults. Although it is a difficult situation to move your loved one away from you, in some cases, it is the best choice to make. It gets challenging to cater to elderly needs all the time. Assisted living offers a place where most of these needs are fulfilled. However, it becomes imperative to move elders from an assisted living facility to a skilled nursing facility in some exceptional cases. When the health starts deteriorating, nursing homes become a necessary option as they are more equipped to deal with seniors' health and medical needs. In this article, we show some of the conditions when transitioning from assisted living to nursing homes become vital.
What Is Assisted Living? Assisted living is a choice of living for seniors and elders who cannot live alone and requires socialization and an active lifestyle. It is a long-term housing choice and caters to personalized care and various particular preferences of the seniors. An assisted living facility offers a sense of community to the elders. It helps them with their daily life routine and self-care. What Is Nursing Home? Nursing homes are other long-term residences, but it focuses more on the medical needs and assistance of the people. In other words, nursing homes are skilled nursing facility to care for medical problems and chronic illnesses. Elderly adults who suffer from chronic illnesses and debilitating physical health conditions require a health care nursing home for personal care. Transition From Assisted Living To Nursing Home Moving from assisted living to nursing homes becomes essential in certain conditions. Here are some of the reasons you should consider moving your loved one from an assisted living facility to a nursing home. Limited Financial Resources Assisted living homes and facilities are considerably more expensive and costly. Not everyone is capable of affording home care centers. On the other hand, nursing homes require specific criteria to be met, and the major one is the nursing need. If you have financial constraints, you can become eligible for Medicaid and get the required financial help for the skilled nursing facility. Nursing becomes a good choice in this case as it is also healthy for the elderly. Requires 24/7 Care In a situation where your loved one needs nursing staff 24/7, it's time to shift them to a nursing home. Assisted living cannot ensure the availability of the nursing staff around the clock. Their purpose is different, and nurses are present only for some specific tasks. However, when the resident's medical needs increase and require specialized medical care 24/7, it is better to move to a nursing home. A nursing home is equipped with resources and staff that are available all the time. Moreover, nursing homes tend to address severe medical needs when the patients need them. Terminal Or Chronic Illness The assisted living facility is not equipped to deal with chronic or terminal illnesses. When the medical issues become long-term, and the patient is frequently in and out of the hospital, moving them to a nursing home is better. Visiting hospitals can become stressful for elders, and it can worsen certain conditions. In these cases, the nursing home can help stabilize the patients with chronic illnesses and save them from repeated hospital stays. Suppose your senior has been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness. In that case, it's in their best interest to shift them to a nursing home. Significant Mobility Concerns Assisted living centers cannot provide two staff members to assist in walking or transferring. They offer pretty limited mobility assistance to the residents. Residents are expected to be fully mobile in terms of walking, getting in and out of bed, and moving around. So, in case your loved one has come across any accident or injury that has led to significant mobility concerns. It is better to consider a nursing home in this situation. Nursing homes have trained and specialized staff that offers mobility assistance. It is a better choice for people who are wheel-chair bound or have chronic injuries that require assistance in mobility. Complex Medical Needs When the medical needs of the elder start increasing, so much that they require frequent visits to the labs and hospitals, it is time to move from assisted living to a nursing home. Nursing homes are equipped to deal with complicated and complex medical needs and requirements. Your seniors are in a safer hand in a nursing home. Alzheimer’s Or Other Progressive Conditions It is common to get diagnosed with a neurological problem at an old age. Severe memory or cognitive problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult for assisted living facilities to handle. These cognitive and progressive conditions require specialized care and treatment to slow their progression. Moreover, the condition can worsen as the deterioration increases. Therefore, it is recommended to move a resident from assisted living to a health care nursing home that caters to memory issues. If you feel your seniors are going through any of the aforementioned conditions, consider moving them from an assisted living facility to a skilled nursing home.
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