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Make Healthcare Choices |
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Most of us want to care for our loved ones at home, but there are times when a loved one might need more advanced or continuous care. Many times, the need to find skilled nursing care is expedited when a loved one experiences a fall or stroke, or is no longer able to attend to their personal grooming and hygiene needs.
Nursing homes can provide care and supervision 24 hours a day. This is ideal for people who may require help with daily living activities such as getting out of bed, eating, bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. Also, elderly people who live in nursing homes may have chronic illnesses or need rehabilitative care. Nursing homes combine personalized medical care, social services, and a comfortable, at-home atmosphere.
The Total Care Plan
Your loved one’s healthcare team—which may include a doctor, therapists, pharmacists, registered dietitians, social service workers, activities coordinators and nurses—will develop a personalized care plan to fit your loved one’s specific needs. Certified nursing assistants also are trained to provide round-the-clock personal attention when needed. The plan may include rehabilitative care, medical care, social support, dietary planning and personal care, as well as Alzheimer’s care if your loved needs it.
Medical Care
Your loved one’s doctor typically will create a medical care plan to ensure consistent, complete treatment. The plan may include medication, IV fluids, orders for rest or activity, vital sign checks, and wound and infection care and prevention. Medical care can vary greatly depending on your loved one’s condition, but most nursing homes provide post-hospital care, cardiac care, diabetic care, dialysis support, intravenous (IV) therapy, pain management, rehabilitative therapies, respiratory services, stroke care and wound management.
Dietary Planning
Our dietary team works with our residents and their physicians to create personal dietary guidelines for your loved one. This plan is developed to support their individual needs, and typically will include a well-balanced and nutritious diet, as well as special food recommendations for your loved one’s medical condition. Also, whenever possible, the dietary plan will include your loved one’s food preferences.
Our company takes pride in offering dining options that provide well-balanced meals and snacks with as few restrictions as possible. We often refer to mealtime as a “dining experience” because we want it to be just that—healthy food that smells and tastes good, eaten with friends and family.
Social Support
Nursing homes understand that there is more to life than medical care. Most nursing homes offer recreational services, religious services, classes such as crafts or music, special group meals, family days, and occasional entertainment by local organizations such as school choirs. When choosing a nursing home, you can make sure that it offers religious services and other activities that match your loved one’s beliefs and interests.
Personal Considerations
A nursing home may not be able to offer all of the conveniences that your loved one’s own home does; however, it’s important that you find a close match to their lifestyle. Look for an inviting environment that has the right amount of space and privacy to make your loved one feel comfortable. Confirm that the nursing home you choose has adequate social support and prompt medical care. Also, look for features that are important to your loved one’s personal preferences. For instance, if he or she loves the outdoors, try to find a home that has a patio or garden.
A Plan for Rehabilitation
A nursing home can be a good place for your loved one to improve or regain physical abilities. If your loved one needs rehabilitation, a doctor will order a rehabilitation plan, which is overseen by professional therapists. The rehabilitation plan may include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
A rehabilitation plan can help your loved one recover from such injuries as fractures and stroke-related disabilities. Therapy is designed to help people get back their former abilities or at least recover as much ability as possible. At that point, your loved one may be able to return home or require less supervision.
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