Placing a Loved One with Dementia in a Home -

Details for Placing a Loved One with Dementia in a Home

ID:	8764
Author:	boriskov
Title:	Placing a Loved One with Dementia in a Home
Article:	Dementia is a difficult problem for the patient as well as the families. No one wants to place their loved one in a home yet sometimes there is no choice as the needed care cannot be given in the home. It sometimes seems like it is a no-win situation: if a family member chooses to keep the patient in the home it can become an overwhelming responsibility; placing them in a home can make a person feel as though they are betraying their loved one. Choosing a home for your loved one is no easy task. Once the family has decided that this type of care is what is needed it is then time to start looking. Some homes have waiting lists. Other homes may not meet your needs or ideals of where you want your loved one to live. Any family looking for a home will soon realize that there is a wide variation in the quality of care that each type of home offers. Visit The Home Before Making Decision It is so important for family members to visit possible homes for placement - and, there should be more than one visit. Try to visit during the morning hours to determine the routine. It is also important to visit during a lunch or evening meal - not only to determine the quality and quantity of food being served but also to see the number of staff members present and how the meal is being fed to a patient or supervised. Finally, it is important to visit in order to speak with key personnel at the facility. During the visit with the professionals it is important to ask questions such as the number of staff members per resident; the qualifications of the nurses, aids, and so forth; the frequency of visits by support personnel such as a therapist, doctors, and others; observe how the residents are being treated (are they left alone in the hall, in a wheelchair, without adequate clothing to combat the air conditioning); are the residents you observe clean and dressed appropriately, are they well groomed; does the staff appear to interact and act friendly with all of the residents? Finally, if you have the opportunity it is wonderful if you can speak with other family members who have placed their loved one in the home. The Cost The cost of living in such a home varies from city to city and state to state. Those offering better staffing per resident will cost more money. If the patient uses all of his/her available funds, while living in the home, then s/he becomes eligible for Medicaid to pay the expenses for the home. However, there are strict requirements each resident must meet before Medicaid becomes available. The cost of living in a home has many variables. It is more costly for a resident to live in a private room opposed to sharing a room with one to three other people. Also, cost is involved if the resident requires special therapy. Each home sets their own costs. Some homes offer all services inclusive in the cost while other homes charge for all services outside the basic provisions offered. It is difficult to make the decision to move your loved one to a home for those suffering from dementia. However, it can be an overwhelming responsibility for family members to care for this person in the home. There are a variety of homes available where you can move your loved one - however, it does require research, visits, and a strong convincing that this can be your loved ones home away from home. About the author of this article: ines maric writes for a website that helps locate assisted living facilities in oregon , as well as nursing homes and adult foster care in oregon .
Category:	Home: Seniors
Date:	August 16, 2010 04:03:00 PM

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