Alternatives to the Nursing Home

There are various alternative to nursing homes.  Listed below is a brief outline of 5 of them.

Adult Family Homes

These are residential homes for two to six residents. The seniors are given room, board, necessary supervision, personal care and social activities. Some offer nursing care that can serve people with dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities.

Assisted Living

These are community homes licensed to care for seven or more residents. They provide private apartments with an emphasis on privacy and independence. Levels of care assistance can vary along with pricing. Some specialize in dementia and mental health care. An Assisted Living Home gives residents a feeling of being at home instead of an institutionalized setting. Each caregiver and manager is required to become certified, and frequently the careprovider or manager lives in the home full time.

Community Care Services Program (CCSP)

This program provides community based services to functionally impaired persons who meet specific Medicaid eligibility requirements. Services include adult day care, alternative living services (similar to personal care homes), home-delivered meals, personal support services and emergency response systems. To qualify for this program persons must be Medicaid-eligible or potentially eligible to receive services. 

Home Health and Care Agencies

These agencies send skilled and non-skilled personnel into the homes of people who are incapacitated or recuperating from an illness. Services may be provided by registered nurses, physical, occupational or speech therapists; home health aides and companion sitters. These services are sometimes reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.

Careproviders

Instead of taking your loved one to the nursing home, you can employ a careprovider that will be around providing 24 hours attention and care needed by your loved one. A careprovider must meet certain criteria - they need to be extremely patient, understand the special needs and interact very well with the elderly. The best way to get a qualified carprovider is to interview as many candidates as possible. 

Although most of the alternatives to a nursing home require a gread deal of money, the need to have your loved one around you often outweighs the cost of providing care for them at home. There have been lots of stories about nursing home abuse and neglect therefore, having your senior cared for at home will hopefully avoid all that by giving them the maximum attention he or she needs.

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