No elder care services are alike. Each type of senior care – nursing homes, assisted living, in-home (independent living), and retirement communities – has advantages and disadvantages depending on a person’s current needs.
If you are currently considering an elder care services in Monterey CA, there are several issues you should weigh:
- Type of care needed – If you or a loved one has medical conditions that affect mobility, a nursing home or assisted living options are ideal. However, those who require less assistance, but may have difficulty with day-to-day household tasks or remembering medication could go the in-home or retirement community option. While thinking of the level of help needed, also consider the future and whether or not additional medical care would be required.
- Service Hours and Accessibility – If a nursing home is out of the question, determine how accessible your current home is to the hospital, doctor’s office, or other important places such as the drug store or market. Will you need transportation assistance? If you opted not to go with a 24/7 plan, can you request assistance any time of the day? If so, how quick or long will help be able to reach you?
- Amenities – The available amenities will directly affect you or your loved one’s needs. In-home senior care may be too limited if medical equipment is necessary. Retirement homes may provide more support from healthcare workers nearby, but the houses themselves may not be equipped to fit the needs of a patient, particularly if he/she who began residing on that home without medical needs.
- Social support – Aging has been linked to depression, but all types of elder care services provide some kind of social support. The degree of socialization and personal preference play a role in deciding on this issue. In-home care allows you to be with family, nursing homes offer a lot of scheduled socialization, while assisted living and retirement homes provide some freedom when it comes to socializing with people in the same age range.
- Tailored Care – Older adults may want to consider senior housing that will provide needs for the current and future situations. The good thing is you can mix and match two or more types of elder care services, but decide early on instead of asking a family member to decide for you.
- Competent Staff – One of the most important things you should make sure is to find a facility with friendly, competent and compassionate staff, particularly if the caregiver will be alone with you or your senior loved one majority of the day.
- Cost – Budget is a major consideration since long-term care can be costly. Some of these senior care options accept Medicaid, which could significantly help with costs for those with limited income.
If you need assistance with deciding the best elder care services in Monterey CA, San Benito, and parts of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, visit Central Coast VNA & Hospice for a proper assessment.
Central Coast VNA & Hospice has provided highly-trained elder care services in Monterey CA since 1951. The non-profit facility offers adult day care, home care, assisted living services, hospice and other senior care plans tailor-fit to individual needs.
