Independent Living

When a loved one is generally self-sufficient but would benefit from the socialization, activities, comfort and security of a community setting, independent living is best. Independent living is offered in multi-level buildings or group housing communities. Independent living communities offer group meals, group activities, fitness centers, gardening, transportation and non-medical assistance within the community. Some independent living communities have swimming pools, jacuzzis, billiards tables, hair salons and cafes. Often, independent living offers the social support for widowers to remain active, happy and healthy. Many times an independent living community has on-site caregivers that assist with laundry, grooming, cleaning and other tasks. The costs of independent living communities range from $1000 to $6000 a month.

Chicago Assisted Living

When a loved one needs daily living assistance and would benefit from the socialization, activities, comfort and security of a community setting, assisted living is best. Assisted living is offered in residential homes and multi-level buildings. Most of the assisted living communities in Chicago have accommodations for 50 or more seniors. In Chicago, a few scattered residential homes offer assisted living with only 4 to 8 seniors per house. Assisted living communities offer cooking, cleaning, laundry, bathing, toileting, grooming, transportation and medical assistance. Also, group activities are usually scheduled and seniors are encouraged to remain active and social. The costs of assisted living communities range from $3000 to $7000 a month.

Nursing Homes

When a loved one needs 24-hour skilled nursing care and cannot stay at home, a nursing home is the best option. Although a nursing home is the last option to consider in senior care, a few good homes exist in the Chicago area. The top nursing homes are working hard to change the nursing home perception by offering compassionate care in comfortable settings. The cost of nursing home care ranges from $4000-$9000 per month.

Comparing Home Care and Assisted Living

It’s a difficult time when Mom or an aging relative needs help to care for herself. When care is needed, most seniors think they want to stay at home and family members willingly oblige this request without fully researching the options. Fear of change and a misconception of modern assisted living options most often lead to the thought that home care is best. Most seniors have only seen the nursing home where they placed their parent or visited a friend several years ago. Now, nursing homes are only for short rehabilitation stays or when a feeding tube or intravenous medications are necessary. Gone are the days of tile floors, hospital beds and bad food. Modern assisted living properties are full of life and provide many benefits that home care simply cannot offer.

The biggest attraction of home care is that it allows one to stay at home. However, when you consider everything involved, staying at home does not have many advantages. First, without expensive modifications, homes are not designed for senior safety. Often the home is too big or has built in obstacles such as stairs that present an immediate danger. Second, matching one caregiver (or two or three if 24 hour care is needed) to one person can present difficulties. If the caregiver gets sick, quits or takes a vacation, the entire selection process starts over. Further, little social or physical stimulation is provided by a caregiver coming to the home. Seniors remain isolated - especially if they cannot drive. Third, home care is expensive. The least expensive companies charge $160/day or $4800/month for 24 hour home care. This only includes care. Additional expenses such as a mortgage, food, gas, electricity, real estate taxes, lawn care and home repairs must be added into the costs of home care. So, the true cost of home care can easily exceed $6000 per month.

Assisted living provides many advantages over home care. Modern assisted living is nothing like nursing homes of the past. First, the structure is much improved. Seniors get their own apartment with a bedroom, a living area and a kitchen. They bring their own bed, couch, television, dining table and other furniture to live comfortably. Also, the apartments are designed with senior safety in mind. The apartments have pull cords for emergencies and easy-entry showers with seats and grab rails. The buildings have heated pools, fireplaces, Jacuzzis, hair salons, physical fitness centers, patios and dance floors.

Second, recent medical studies have proved the health benefits of socialization. We’ve seen it, the socialization benefits can change lives. Often to the astonishment of family members, the senior makes new friends when living among their peers. If they do not meet someone at lunch or dinner, they will make a new friend on a bus trip to Walgreens or at the hair salon. This is not possible if the senior remains isolated at home.

Third, the amount of activities and encouragement from the staff lead to dramatic increases in physical and mental activity. Again, often to the surprise of family members, the senior becomes involved in ballroom dancing, knitting clubs, crossword clubs, Thai Chi or bingo. Also, on-site physical fitness is encouraged and conveniently located just outside the senior’s door. Furthering seniors’ physical well-being, some assisted living properties are offering massages and spa treatments.

Fourth, assisted living provides wonderful dietary benefits. The days of toast and Ensure are replaced with restaurant style dining. The menus offer multiple choices and the food is prepared by professional chefs.

Fifth, the all-inclusive cost of assisted living is between $3000 and $5000 per month. Assisted living is a bargain when one considers the amenities, activities, mental stimulation, socialization benefits and dietary improvements.

So, before deciding that home care is the best option, you owe it to yourself and, most important, your aging loved one to look at modern assisted living options. Educating your aging loved one that hospital-like nursing homes are a thing of the past is the first step to overcoming the fear of change. Once you get over the fear of change, assisted living provides many benefits for leading the healthiest and happiest final years of our lives.

Discussing Care Options with an Aging Loved One

Your parents always took care of you, but now it’s your turn to make healthcare and living decisions for them. Where do you go for help? What are your options? Who are the best providers? How much does it all cost? Whether it’s for your mom, dad or another loved one, choosing the best home care, assisted-living or nursing home is not easy. However, talking to your aging loved one can prove even more difficult than choosing the best care provider.

The topic of senior care is emotionally charged. You are probably afraid to mention the topic and have some guilt for not being able to provide the care yourself. This fear and guilt is eclipsed by the senior’s fear of change, fear and embarrassment of not being able to care for her or himself and stubbornness often caused by routine. We all get set in our ways and can easily empathize with a senior who needs to make some changes because of health concerns. It’s not a fun time, but modern choices in senior care and housing make the process much easier. In order to understand the options, an aging loved one must agree to look at what is available.

You can use several techniques to make discussions with an aging parent easier. First, it’s important to understand that the parent-child roles are reversed. Your aging loved one is no longer the decision-maker when it comes to care needs. Just as he or she sent you to kindergarten for your own good, you must do what’s best for his or her safety and well-being. However, the subject should be introduced in a manner so the senior feels as though she or he is the final decision-maker. This is accomplished by telling the senior that it’s best to look at senior care options early so that the senior gets to decide what she or he likes and relieves the family of making a decision during a crisis. It’s important to go on tours of assisted living properties while your aging loved one is healthy and can still get around.

You should express your concern for the safety and well being of your aging loved one. Tell the senior that you care about them, love them and want the best for them. Aging seniors often do not understand the stress of an adult child who has multiple work and family obligations. Further, the senior does not realize your fear and stress attributable to their declining health. It is important to talk with your aging loved one about your fear that she or he will fall and go without help, forget to take medication or not get the proper nutrition. Also, talk with your aging loved one about how caregiving interferes with loving. Removing the burden of providing care by hiring home caregivers or placement in an assisted living property will go far in reducing your stress level and improving the quality and comfort of your aging loved one’s final years.