As your parents’ age and health conditions change, they may require an increasing amount of care. Daily activities may become more challenging for them, causing them to struggle with independent living. As an adult child, the burden of caring for your aging parents might fall on your shoulders.
Do you know how to care for your parents?
Are you wondering what options for senior care exist?
Are you looking for alternatives to nursing homes for dementia patients?
Most people will probably default to a nursing home when thinking about care for their parents. However, this may not be the best option for you or your aging loved ones.
Did you know there are alternatives to nursing home care for elderly parents like yours?
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best retirement home alternatives. Keep reading to understand available home care options for elderly parents to help you decide which one is best for your situation.
4 Alternative Options for Senior Care
1. Move Your Parents Into Your Home
Moving your parents into your house is one of the first home care options for elderly parents to consider. It’s not ideal for everyone, but moving your parents in with you is a good option for adult children who want to provide personal, hands-on care themselves.
But moving your parents in with you is a big decision that will likely require you to make changes to your personal life and home. If your parents move in with you, you become their primary caregiver. The responsibility of care for your parents will fall entirely on you.
- Is your house safe for your parents?
- Do you have the time and capacity to provide full-time elderly care?
- Are your parents comfortable moving in with you?
- Will this decision affect your marriage, children, job, or other significant responsibilities?
If you do decide to become a family caregiver, be aware that burnout is common. It may be necessary for you to set up some boundaries and take time to care for yourself. Seeking respite care is an excellent way to regularly relieve the stress of being your parents’ primary caregiver.
2. Assisted Living Communities
A popular alternative to nursing homes is an assisted living community. Assisted living communities offer elderly adults independence, care, and supervision.
In addition to housing, assisted living communities often include amenities like:
- Meals
- Personal care and support
- Transportation services
- Social activities
- Exercise opportunities
However, assisted living communities usually don’t provide skilled nursing or medical assistance. They also require that your parents move from their current home into an assisted living facility. Before choosing to move your parent into an assisted living community, you should consider a couple of things:
- Are my aging parents comfortable moving?
- Do they need access to frequent medical care?
Assisted living communities are good for aging parents who want a feeling of independence but don’t require consistent medical attention.
3. Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are another one of the alternatives to nursing home care for elderly parents. They’re similar to assisted living communities but have a few differences, namely, access to skilled medical care.
One big downfall to CCRCs is that your parents will need to move from their current home into a CCRC. However, once they arrive at the CCRC, they’ll have a sense of independence and won’t need to move again. Your parents can start residing in an independent living space and later move to an assisted living apartment—all in the same facility. Additionally, some CCRCs have a nursing home as part of their continuum of care if your parent should ever need that level of care.
CCRCs provide your parents with the ability to stay in the same community throughout different aging phases. Additionally, CCRCs offer a unique environment that allows for stability and familiarity while also providing increased care as necessary.
4. In-Home Elder Care
One of the best ways to answer the question, “How to stay out of a nursing home?” is through in-home care. Elderly parents living at home vs. a nursing home is a debate that adult siblings typically have as they worry about their parents’ ability to live alone.
With in-home care, a caregiver is sent directly to your parents’ place of residence. In-home care allows your parents to age in place—no moving or major transitions necessary.
Caregivers will come alongside your parents to help with various personal care and life tasks. Personal care services can include:
- Dressing
- Feeding
- Transportation
If your parents are still capable of performing personal care independently, a caregiver can be beneficial in other ways. Caregivers can provide aging parents with an extra set of hands and assist around the house with:
- Cleaning
- Laundry
- Meal prep
Additionally, in-home care is a perfect option for adult children with parents that have specialized needs like dementia or are recovering from surgery.
Caregivers offer companionship and hands-on care to your aging parents. They also provide you with peace of mind that your parents are receiving the help they need.
Need Help Choosing Home Care Options for Elderly Parents?
Many alternatives to long-term care facilities exist to help your parents as they age. You can move your parents into your home and become their primary caregiver. Or, you could help them transition into an assisted living community or a continuing care retirement community.
If your parents want to age at home, in-home care is one of the best options for senior care. By having a caregiver present in their home, your parents will receive help with the tasks they’re finding difficult to perform independently.
Considering all of the alternatives to nursing home care for elderly parents, sometimes it’s best to talk with someone who knows the details about elder care.
At Stowell Associates, we’re in-home elder care professionals. We’ve helped many adult children in your position provide caring support to aging family members. Our expertly trained staff of Care Managers and Caregivers are ready to deliver you and your loved one premium home care services.
Care Managers will take time to talk with you, understand your parents’ situation, and create a personalized care plan. They’ll continue to work closely with you and your parents’ Caregivers to ensure the best possible care in all stages of aging.
Contact us today to talk with our Care Advisors and get a firsthand look at the value of in-home care for your loved ones.
