The world has the largest senior population in history. With over 1.9 billion Baby Boomers entering their retirement years, a unique need for secure and affordable senior housing options is a challenge facing every family and community. In addition, the vast majority of seniors claim that they would prefer to age at home, and there is a need for alternative care options for all seniors.
For seniors and their family members, finding the right care is a priority. Most seniors could manage to stay in their homes where they are the most comfortable if they had a bit of help. Simultaneously, others who are young in years have medical needs that require full-time supervised care. Finding an appropriate senior living solution is individual for each family.
The process of talking about senior living can be tough on the whole family. No one likes to admit that they may not be able to stay living at home, and adult children often struggle with broaching the subject with their senior parents. The critical thing to remember is that safety needs to be a priority. More seniors are injured due to falls in the home than any other sector of the population.
In past generations, the only viable senior living solutions were to move into an institutional style retirement or nursing home. Thankfully, today’s options are much more comfortable and modern environments where seniors can continue to thrive in their golden years. Seniors that want to remain at home also have the option of bringing in-home care services into their lives for support, allowing them to maintain their independence.
According to longhouse.com, there are more options from smaller senior living facilities to adult daycare centers than ever before for senior living and care. If you are a senior or an adult child, it may be time to consider the living options that will help make your retirement more comfortable and safe. Let’s look at some of the unique senior living options that are a world apart from a traditional nursing home.
Retirement Community
One of the most prevalent reasons seniors begin to reconsider their living arrangements is their limited budget. Retirement can be expensive, and it is not always financially feasible for seniors to remain in their family homes. Many seniors consider downsizing to a smaller, more manageable home in which to enjoy their retirement. Since the start of the new century, every state has witnessed new communities that cater to seniors popping up in their communities.
Retirement communities are a desirable living alternative for senior couples that are looking for simpler and more affordable living. Retirement communities offer seniors unique living in an active community with amenities right on site. Many communities offer various services from landscape maintenance, gym facilities, and a medical clinic on the property.
Senior Group Homes
There are now smaller senior living facilities called group homes for seniors that need some level of care and supervision but aren’t ready to live in an institutionalized nursing home. These privately owned senior based living centers are essentially large family homes with a number of bedrooms for residents. Up to 10 seniors can enjoy the services and care of a retirement home but on a smaller and more comfortable scale.
Senior group homes provide residents with 24-hour care with healthcare nursing workers in the home. Residents can enjoy the close bonds that they will make with their housemates and share common home areas like the kitchen and living room while still having their own bedroom privacy.
In-Home Care
Many adult children end up taking on the duty of care for their senior parents that are living at home. Although most seniors want to maintain their independence, health and safety issues don’t always make this a viable option. Not every adult child is close enough or skilled enough to provide the level of care that their parent needs to remain living at home.
If you or your parents are insistent about aging at home, but you need extra help to stay safe and healthy, you may consider in-home care. Your need will dictate your level of service. If you need a bit of help with daily chores like cooking or cleaning, you can have healthcare aid come in a few times a week, or if you have cognitive or health issues that require nursing care daily, you can have an in-home care specialist on a full-time basis with help from AbsoluteCareHealth.com.au.
Adult Day Care
If you are an adult child that is caring for a senior parent in your home, you can’t be around 24/7 to meet all their needs. Between personal and professional obligations, your senior parents could end up spending a lot of time on their own. For seniors with cognitive, emotional, or medical health issues, they may require more care than you can provide daily.
Adult Day Care is exactly what you would imagine it is. Participants can be dropped off at a center when needed and cared for during the day when you aren’t available or if you need a break. You are entirely in charge of your schedule and how often you need to use the service. You may want to visit an Adult Daycare once a week as a social outlet, or you may need to go several times a week.
Seniors can enjoy meeting with friends, are looked after by professional healthcare workers, and participate in many activities. Seniors who spend too much time on their remain at higher risk of physical injury and mental stresses like depression. Adult daycare gives both senior parents an outlet for socialization and adult children the peace of mind knowing that their parent is in a safe environment while they are away.
Understandably, the senior living options of the past were not always attractive to families. Institutionalized senior homes are no longer the only option to mature adults that want to live simpler or need some level of assistance. Taking stock of your needs is the first step to choosing an alternative to nursing care for yourself or your senior parent. From smaller-scale senior living group homes to adult daycare centers, there are more alternatives for comfortable and safe senior living thanks to the unprecedented need.
