|
Nursing Homes
The decision to enter a nursing home is often
unpleasant. In many cases, it indicates that
we have reached that point in our lives where,
after a lifetime of independence, we are
no longer able to care for ourselves because
of physical or mental disabilities, and we
no longer have someone who can care for us
in our homes. But a nursing home does not
need to be a bad experience. Homes can be
a source of new friendships, improved quality
of life, and the immediate availability of
medical care when needed.
Choosing the right home, however,
can be
more problematic, especially
if you are choosing
for another. The choice must
balance quality
of care, costs, comfort, pleasantness,
and
accessibility to loved ones.
We recommend
approaching it as you would any
other decision:
through a calm consideration
of the facts,
visits, discussions with current
residents
and their families and doctors,
and follow-up
visits to ensure your loved one
is getting
the level of care and self-satisfaction
you
expect.
We also recommend that you read Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home, published by the US Department of Health
and Human Services. You'll find
excellent
suggestions to help you in the
process of
selecting a nursing home.
Finally, a nursing home should not be thought
of as our final stop while the clock on our
life is coming to a close. The right home
for us should instead be a place that alleviates
the serious disabilities we face at that
stage in our life -- not for life maintenance
-- but for the purpose of allowing us to
the extent we can to continue to enjoy the
joys of living in our later years. |
|
|
