Long Term Care

The elder population is in need of many different varying forms of long-term-care. Our bodies physically deteriorate as we age. A large portion of us will find ourselves in need of assistance as we get into our last few years of life. Some will need help with a few activities of daily living while others will need serious care do to serious illnesses like Alzheimer’s or Dementia. When elders find themselves in need of help they are then faced with the hard choice of what kind of care will meet their needs.

Around 70% of long term care is provided in the home by a family member or loved one. I know firsthand, from having a disabled mother, that it takes a lot of work. It puts a stress on everyone in the family, but the sick, loved one didn’t have this happen to them on purpose. If you love someone you are going to take care of them. I don’t mind taking care of my Mom most of the time, but it does get hard. I just tried to list the things she does that make it hard to care for her but I can’t. It’s true that I don’t always enjoy helping her but I would never stop. I hate that I don’t live at home still and am there for her. I talk to her on the phone almost every day but that only helps her emotionally, it doesn’t help her get out of bed in the morning or help her make a meal. Guilt is a big struggle with family member care. Both of us feel it, she hates that I have to help her and I hate that I don’t want to do more.

For the more extreme cases we will have to get professional assistance for our loved ones. I know this day is not too far away for my Mom. Where to put her when her health worsens depends on how much we can afford and what her limiting factor, which is forcing her to need more help, is. We will have to choose from Home Health Services, Adult Day Care Centers, Nursing Homes, and Assisted Living Facilities. Once we have decided which of those is best we then have to figure out which local facility will best suit her preferences and provide exceptional care. I hate that I have to think about things like this but that is life and it’s better to be prepared then surprised.