Types of Senior Care Services

Introduction

Whether your loved one needs skilled medical care or just a little help in a home-like setting, there are several options when it comes to long-term care.

Types of Senior Care Services

Nursing Home

If your loved one has complex medical conditions – or needs a lot of help with mobility – a nursing home (or skilled nursing facility) may be the only place that can meet their needs. It’s also easier for those who are eligible to arrange for Medicaid to cover nursing home costs than other long-term care options.

Independent Living

Independent living can be a good choice for seniors who are mostly independent but would benefit from a friendly, supportive neighborhood and a little help with yard work and home maintenance.

Assisted Living

Seniors who can manage fairly well on their own with a little help with meals, dressing, bathing, housekeeping, shopping, and companionship often do well in an assisted living apartment.

Residential Care Group Homes

Residential care comes in a variety of sizes and setups, such as adult foster homes, group homes, and facility settings. They tend to emphasize a home-like environment and offer assistance with personal care, meals and housekeeping. Some homes are designated for special populations, like LGBTQ+, or those who share particular languages, cultures, or religions. This can make a big difference in your loved one’s sense of belonging.

Memory Care

Memory care offers special programming for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. They’re especially suited to seniors who are at risk for wandering. Some focus on helping your loved one function at their best despite their challenges.

Life Care Community

Life care communities (also called continuing care retirement communities or CCRCs) typically offer independent living, assisted living, a nursing home, and sometimes memory care on the same campus so that as your loved one’s needs change they can remain part of the same community.

Home Care

Home care services can assist with personal care, housekeeping, laundry, shopping, transportation, pet care, meal preparation, and other tasks that can help them live independently with the proper support and supervision.

Home Health

Home health features licensed healthcare professionals, such as nurses and therapists, who can tend to wounds or perform other medical care in the home. Physical or occupational therapists can help modify the home for safety and independence, and help your loved one function at their best.

Palliative Care

Palliative care helps minimize suffering and symptoms for people who live with chronic diseases. They work to stabilize conditions such as pain, shortness of breath, and other issues that make living independently a challenge. They focus on quality of life, so if your loved one wants to stay at home, they can help identify resources to support that goal. Palliative care can be provided in a home or facility setting.

Hospice Care

People who are expected to live less than six more months are generally eligible for hospice care, which can be provided in the home or a facility. With hospice support, it’s sometimes possible to remain in the home. There are also specialized hospice group homes in some areas. These can be perfect for those who need more help than they can get at home but want to remain in a peaceful, home-like environment.

Author Bio

Laura Herman is an elder and dementia care professional who advocates for better senior care in America. This article has been reviewed by TJ Falohun, co-founder and CEO of Olera. He is a trained biomedical engineer and writes about the cost of healthcare in America for seniors.

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