When your parents or grandparents enter their golden years, you must come to accept the fact that they need to eventually transition over to some form of senior living program like memory care, respite care, and assisted living. It may be confusing for yourself as well as for your senior family member having to go through this new chapter of life. How do you decide which senior living option is a more suitable program for your loved one? Here are some of the differences between the two options so as to help you to make a proper decision.
Assisted Living
If your loved one is considerably independent and is in premium health but still requires support with daily activities, it is recommended to sign them up for an assisted living program. A full assessment will be performed by the senior housing community to determine the level of independence of your loved ones to ensure that their needs can be fully met in the assisted living program. An assisted living program offers private accommodations that will provide your loved ones with the privacy they need while receiving 24-hour specialized care. There are also plenty of lifestyle programs for them to participate in to socialize with fellow neighbors for a more enriching life. Your loved one will also be provided with nutrition help to ensure they get to stay fit and healthy. Assisted living is more of a permanent arrangement, unlike respite care which is a temporary care program that we will cover in more details below.
Respite Care
Respite care is a temporary care program that can be engaged for a number of reasons. If your loved one is recuperating from an injury or surgery, they can receive rehabilitation service at a senior living community that offers respite care with 24-hour medical care. Respite care is also suitable to let your loved ones familiarize themselves with a senior living setting before they permanently move into a senior living community. This is to avoid a dire change in moods which can be detrimental to their health. For the caregivers, respite care is useful for them to take a break from their caregiving role. They can unwind and rejuvenate while knowing that their senior loved one will be in the good hands of respite care providers who offer round-the-clock specialized care. Your loved one will have their daily needs tended to and all their health requirements monitored.
Key Difference Between Assisted Living and Respite Care
The key difference between these two senior living options is their duration. Respite care is a temporary relief program whereas assisted living is a permanent arrangement. Depending on the needs of your senior loved one, you can decide for them the more suitable senior living option that can accommodate all their needs. Remember to always include them in your decision-making process to let them voice their opinions on this next chapter of their life. Each of these senior living options comes with its own benefits but the ultimate objective is to ensure your senior loved one is always in good hands.
