Senior Caregivers: A New Era of Elder Care

Posted on | April 25, 2013

Aging is an inevitable phase of a person’s life. But it was only a few years back when the need to address the needs of elderly people has been recognized. The average age of most developed countries is increasing, and along with this increase in longevity comes an upsurge in various needs associated with age. More and more middle-aged adults have to face a host of issues as their parents retire and begin to experience the slow loss of physical and mental faculties. But most of them, if not all, don’t have the time to attend to their parents’ necessities.

Family members addressing senior needs

Many people find themselves suddenly confronted with an aged or sick parent who needs an inordinate amount of help. Having a senior in the family becomes alarming when an older person begins to forget very significant things, such as the identities of close family members or long-time friends, or their morning routine 10 years ago.

Dealing with mental and physical deterioration of the senior parents can result in a family chaos. More often than not, siblings argue on who will be in charge of their parents’ senior care, often resulting in a disagreement. In addition, well-meaning children who consider assisted living facilities as the best option can get their parents’ firm look of disapproval.

As a result, millions of Americans experience quitting their jobs to take care of their parents, go to faraway cities every weekend just to check on their mom and dad, and spend thousands of dollars a year to pay for their parents’ welfare. Senior care requires such sacrifices that, unfortunately, not everyone is willing to give. Although medical devices like senior alert systems are helpful in keeping the elders independent and are relatively cheaper, the parents’ nonstop aging and weakening would ultimately require physical attention from senior home cares or senior caregivers.

Requiring the help of a professional caregiver

Despite the economic downturn, the caregiving industry continues to boom as the number of baby-boomers in who are in need of assistance continues to grow. Senior caregivers giving their clients the dedication that cannot be provided by the latter’s own family.

From daily companionship, to preparing meals, to performing light household duties, and to making sure they are religious in their medical obligations, caregivers can address not only an elder’s health and wellbeing needs but also their need for a family.

As ironic as it may seem, but for an old, developed country like America, the more people age, the more they become independent to the younger generation. And oddly enough, the younger generations find it less of a priority to prepare for and deal with their future.

But the creation of assisted living facilities and the constant demand for senior care professionals brings senior care to a new era, where the warmth of a home is achieved with modern-day convenience.

Are Retirement Villages The Answer For The Aging Population?

Posted on | April 11, 2013

Communities consisting of new housing, built around a core of facilities including health care, community-centric services as well as entertainment and leisure facilities are becoming an increasingly attractive proposition for the exponentially growing numbers of British senior citizens.

While retirement villages are already popular and common place in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the US (over 12% of senior Americans live in retirement communities), they are a relatively new concept in the UK. Pensioners now outnumber the number of children in Britain, and with the number of over-65s likely to double in the next 25 years it’s easy to see why retirement communities and villages are on the rise. Those of pensionable age will soon make up a quarter of the population, and the average retirement age now lasts a quarter of a century, according to a 2010 report.

Retirement villages can offer a whole host of benefits to older people. Independence is an important factor for many senior citizens, and retirement villages can provide that independence coupled with the security that if a person’s health should deteriorate, help is on hand. There are also opportunities for social engagement, with many retirement villages having a social hub for residents to meet and partake in activities. There are often sports and leisure facilities as well as shops and restaurants, reflecting more traditional village life as opposed to that of a care home. This helps to promote an active lifestyle and sense of well-being amongst people.

Since most retirement villages are larger than standard care homes (with an average of 100 dwellings apiece) this allows for economies of scale, meaning facilities and medical care services are often superior to those of smaller living arrangements. Services are flexible, and change to meet the requirements of residents as and when their needs change.

Perhaps one of the key questions about retirement villages regards affordability, and whether these communities are accessible to people from varied economic backgrounds. Many schemes offer properties to buy outright as well as an option to rent, meaning that in theory retirement communities should be accessible to most senior citizens, regardless of financial status. While older people are sometimes reluctant to sell their homes, it can often be impractical to hold onto a larger property, and many are beginning to place their houses on the market in order to release equity to allow them to take up a place in one of the many new retirement communities the UK has to offer.

Article provided by The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, The Charity supports over 4,000 older people in 17 Housing Schemes and 13 Villages across the Midlands and the North of England.

Cost for Assisted Living on the Rise

Posted on | December 6, 2012

Assisted Living Communities are homes for seniors who do not need a nursing home yet but not able to live independently.  Senior Communities that offer assistance of daily living are the bridge between home care and nursing homes.  A recent study by MetLife Mature Market Institute in its 2012 market survey reveals that assisted living had become expensive in the past year.  This is a slight contrast to home care and adult daycare services in which rates have remain unchanged.
The MetLife statistics shows the following:
• Assisted living costs grew 2.1% to an average monthly rate of $3,550, or $42,600 a year.
• 51% of assisted living communities offer memory care services for residents. In nearly two-thirds of communities (61%), that comes at an additional cost, averaging $57,684 a year.
The following are the States with the highest average monthly rates for assisted living:
• Washington, D.C. – $5,933
• Delaware – $5,249
• New Hampshire – $5,086
• Connecticut – $4,935
• Maine – $4,881
Several States came to the rescue and began to cover the cost of assisted living for low-income seniors through Medicaid waiver programs. Yet, only those who are qualified are entitled. The government determines the qualification for this program. The survey still reveals that most assisted living residents pay privately or through long-term care insurance.
• Only 16% of assisted living communities are part of a Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).
• The majority of assisted living communities (79%) are stand-alone.

• Only 19% are connected to a nursing home.

Common Care Services at an Assisted Living Community

Posted on | November 17, 2012