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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
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Barbara Alder became overwhelmed when she started doing research on the Internet for an assisted living facility for her parents. In addition to the sheer amount of choices and varying services at least in Orange County her family’s situation was further complicated since her parents each had a set of different needs. Her 91-year-old father has physical limitations, but is mentally sharp. Her mother has Alzheimer’s disease. Says the Newport Beach resident with four siblings who live in Orange or Los Angeles counties, “The main thing for us was, we wanted to find some place that had both assisted living and an Alzheimer’s unit (so they could be together). So that kind of narrowed down the field.” Determining the type and level of care is key when choosing an elder-care option for a parent or grandparent in need. Does your loved one simply need companionship or to be driven to an appointment? Is he or she able to walk, talk, bathe and dress without assistance? These are some of the questions to consider when sorting through the different care options. Other factors, such as availability, location and cost, will help provide an appropriate fit. Like many families, Barbara later sought the service of a referral agency, specifically in her case, the United States Eldercare Referral Agency. The nonprofit, Costa Mesa-based organization provided her with a list of facilities that could serve both of her parents’ needs. The agency also contacted all of the referred facilities - about two dozen in all that fit the desired niche - and had them forward literature. With a checklist of items to watch for and questions to ask, supplied by the referral agency, Barbara, who works full time and her sister who still has a child in high school living at home, visited and toured 11 facilities over a five-week period. Cost is another factor to consider. Barbara and her siblings were fortunate in this area. Their parents have plenty of assets to cover the fees. For many others, though, the pricing structure often dictates the type of care option they choose as well as where they locate. According to Robert Rosenberg, executive director of United States Eldercare Referral Agency, facilities in North Orange County, specifically Garden Grove, Anaheim and Fullerton tend to be less expensive, while those in South Orange County are generally significantly higher priced. Beside costs, another factor to consider is accessibility to family and health-care professionals. Barbara and her family, for example, were originally set on moving their parents to Orange County. They later opted to keep them in the San Gabriel Valley, where the couple had lived for some 50 years. This allowed her father to continue seeing his doctors as well as his longtime friends. While the choices available were far less in the San Gabriel Valley area than in Orange County, says Barbara, she and her siblings met their original goal. Sandy Bennett is associate editor. Overview of options Seven to eight years ago, if an elderly person couldn’t get out of bed on his or her own, the primary option was a nursing home, says Robert Rosenberg, executive director of United States Eldercare Referral Agency. Today, an increased level of care is being offered by a number of organizations, with nursing homes typically reserved for individuals who have medical needs. Here is a summary of the options available. Home Health Care: Offers an array of services, such as driving clients to appointments and helping with bathing and medications, which allows elders to stay in their own home as long as possible. It’s also a popular choice among adult children involved in long-distance caregiving and for families who have an elderly relative living within their own home. Services are available for as little as four hours, as needed, to 24-hour care. Adult Day Care: Provides another option for those still in the home, but in need of assistance. Similar to the concept of child-care centers, seniors are dropped off or transported each weekday. Services range from social and educational activities to comprehensive medical treatment. Assisted Living Inns: Typically serves from 100-300 seniors who are alert and independent. Services include community dining, housekeeping, social activities and transportation. Many also offer assistance with daily living tasks, such as bathing and grooming. Residential Care Homes: Offers 24-hour care and supervision, three daily meals, monitoring and dispensing of medications, help with bathing, dressing and walking in a private home setting. Caters to the more frail who need one-on-one supervision. Nursing Homes: Designed for those requiring intense care, often from a skilled nurse under the direction of a doctor. Secured Facilities: Caters to wandering elders, particularly those inflicted with Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. Continuing Care Facilities: Similar to one-stop shops, independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing are available at one location, allowing seniors to change their level of assistance within the same complex. Compiled by Sandy Bennett |
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