Making The Tough Decision … How To Provide Extra Care When It Is Needed
Courtesy Heaven at Home, Denton LIVING WELL Magazine
In the normal aging process, most people reach a point where they need the assistance of someone to take care of all the little things we take for granted. Making that decision can be a trying experience. Scott Vanderhoef, owner of Heaven at Home homecare agency, says, “A person making a care-giving decision is faced with so many options. The solution may be as simple as a son or daughter stopping by to check on mom on the way home from work each day. Or it could go to the extreme of needing skilled nursing care 24 hours a day. There really is no one-size-fits-all answer.”
With the exception of some sort of trauma, most seniors and their families benefit from staying in the home environment that they are most familiar with until their health declines to the point that they really must have around the clock care such as that only available in a skilled care facility. Studies have shown that many people’s health can actually decline as a direct result of the impact of being placed in an institutional environment before it is absolutely necessary. That certainly provides a compelling reason to maintain a familiar home atmosphere as long as it is practical.
Unless 24-hour-per-day care is needed, cost can also make a compelling case for providing services in the home. According to Vanderhoef, “An assisted living facility or a nursing home must naturally charge for patient care 24/7 … even if the needs could really be met with four to six hours of care per day.” Having the patient at home and adjusting their care, as needed, on a weekly or even daily basis can make a significant difference in the overall cost of care. Home care has the advantage of adjusting hours along with the level of skill needed as the patient’s needs increase or diminish.
It can be a mistake to assume that all of the care-giving needs are covered when a senior is moved into an assisted living facility. Vanderhoef says, “It isn’t uncommon for us to be called upon to supply a care-giver for a patient who is living in an assisted living facility. Escalating health issues often require more care than the facility is prepared to provide. Patients in an assisted living facility are also required to be able to evacuate the building on their own in the event of an emergency. Since it is not uncommon for a patient to be non-ambulatory, we end up providing a care giver at all times just to ensure that this evacuation requirement is met.”
Fortunately, those who have planned ahead by taking out long term care insurance will generally find it applies not only to institutional care, but also to qualified home care agencies like Heaven at Home.
There is no denying that nursing homes provide a necessary service for those people who truly need that level of skilled service. However, both psychological and financial impacts should be examined closely before making the hard-to-reverse decision of committing to an assisted living facility or nursing home as the best answer for someone needing less than full time extensive care. One thing that must be considered when you add up all of the plusses and minuses of the care options is the old saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Sometimes that is the most important consideration of all.
“We know it can be a tough decision. I am always glad to sit down with someone who has to make the choice. We know where we can logically provide the best fit based on the needs of the family and the patient. If an institution is really the best answer, I won’t hesitate to suggest some options for the family to consider. I welcome anyone to call me anytime,” says Vanderhoef.
Scott Vanderhoef is the owner of Heaven at Home homecare agency and can be reached at (866) 381-0500. You can also learn more about Heaven at Home by visiting their website at www.heavenathomecare.com.
