Help Finding a Senior Community

A loved one has been in your care for several weeks, months or years but something has changed. Perhaps he has become more ill, you have acquired more responsibilities outside the home, or there has been multiple falls and increased disorientation.

Whatever the reason, you begin to know that you need to look into different living arrangements. There are over 100 communities which serve Senior adults in the extended Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill triangle area. Which are the best communities for your loved one? The "best" community is one that meets your loved one’s unique requirements which include amount of care needed, health status, proximity to family members, and financial resources.

Let’s take a look at what kind senior living options are available.

Independent Living

People who can function independently and but desire to reduce/eliminate home maintenance activities and chores look into independent living options. These include
deeded homes, senior living apartments or independent living communities. They may or may not include amenities such as transportation assistance and planned activities.

Assisted Living
If you need help with activities of daily living, you will be looking into assisted living facilities. These will provide help with meals, bathing, dressing, housekeeping. Shared or private rooms are available. Cost will depend on type of room and level of care. Most also provide planned activities for their residents. Optional services often available are hair salon, therapy, massage or one-on-one care.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Care
For those suffering from Alzheimer's or other types of dementia or memory loss, an
assisted living arrangement will be needed; but the shared or private room is in a "secured" or memory unit community. These units provide higher level of care and security with meals, bathing, dressing, and mentally stimulating activities. Cost depends on type of room and potential level of care.

Residential Care Homes
Similar to assisted living, except you live in a private house (typically in a sub division) converted for shared use. Homes vary in services provided and typically house three to eight residents. There are approximately 25 residential care homes in Raleigh alone.

Skilled Nursing Care
Long term nursing homes provide assistance in activities of daily living and access to 24/7 nursing care. Facilities are structured like a hospital as opposed to a home with on-site physicians and physical therapy. Additional services may be available like hair salon and various types of activities.

Continuing Care Retirement Community
A senior community for those who wish to remain in the same community as their health care needs change with age. These places provide housing transitions from independent living all the way to skilled nursing, if required. All housing is typically in same community, so seniors remain in familiar surroundings with access to multiple services. Requires long term contract or "buy-in" to locate within the community.

Respite Care
Facility care given to a resident to provide short term relief (or during vacation) for primary caregivers. Shared or private room in assisted living or memory care, or nursing home communities. Your stay can be for a couple of days, a week, a month or more.
Cost depends on type of room and level of care.

Does reading all these options overwhelm? How do you find these facilities and know if they are a good fit for your loved one? You can always research using the internet, yellow pages and/or word of mouth. All that requires time, patience and navigating unfamiliar information which may be conflicting. You can also use a paid finder service, which charges you or your loved one for their information.

Always Best Care provides FREE to-you personalized finder services. ABC Care Coordinators meet with you in person to gain understanding of your needs in detail. We utilize information from our private database and knowledge of local resources to set up tours of facilities. We accompany you on your tours to help you ask questions and best decide what meets your loved ones' needs. Always Best Care welcomes your calls to help your family in the challenge of caring for an elder loved one. (919) 724-4297

Questions! Where can I find answers?

Questions! Learning how to provide care to a family member means you have questions! Sometimes, answers are only a click away.  The following websites are a good place to investigate. First, gather as much information as possible about your elder loved one's health, disability, income, wealth (include property owned), Veteran status and education level. Then start clicking.
 
www.Govbenefits.gov –Go to this site and answer every question that you can. Once submitted, the site will respond with a list, details and access information for many, even scores, of beneficial government programs, supplements and/or services. Below are some of those resources. 

Medicare It’s not just Part A Hospital and Part B medical insurance.  If your parent is considered low income, receiving only social security, Medicare may subsidize all but about $10/mo in premiums.  Ask and you may find a great cost saving for your parent.  www.medicare.gov

Social Security  SSI (supplemental security income) may be available to your parent if their social security income was earned on lower paying jobs and is their only source of income. www.ssa.gov/ssi/

Administration on Aging (AOA) - Administers many national programs and services for elders including health insurance counseling, legal assistance, protection from elder abuse and long term care.  Check out their website at www.aoa.gov

Department of Veteran Affairs There are several types and levels of compensation programs available for veterans with service related disabilities.  Contact the VA for more information www.va.gov

HIPAA  Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act of 1996 protects the privacy of everyone’s medical records.  Unless your parent has signed a form designating you as approved to discuss their medical issues with their physician, their physician CANNOT discuss your parent’s medical condition even if you are a family member.  If your loved one has agreed to share her medical info with you, designation forms are available at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/

U.S. Department of Justice If your parent has a disability, especially limiting mobility, learn about the Americans with Disability Act administered by the US Department of Justice.  The ADA website provides access to a lot of useful information.  Go to www.ada.gov.

North Carolina Division on Aging in Raleigh, NC http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/ Professionals well versed in elder programs and services available in our area, including funding sources, staff the agency.  919-733-3983

 Food and Drug Administration If your parents are taking multiple medications, they may experience multiple side effects.  In order to avoid poly pharmacy (dangerous drug interactions) go to the Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/ website to access their database with important information on every drug approved by the agency. WebMed also provides good information on drug contradictions.