Care Options For a Loved One With a Debilitating Disease

Besides the obvious choice of a nursing home, there are other options to create a more customized care plan for your loved one.

In-Home Nursing:

In-hone nurses can be hired through an agency or privately. Using an agency may be a better choice in the long run because the agency will handle all of the paperwork involving income taxes, background check its employees, and replace a worker if they are on vacation or take a sick day.

Adult Foster Care:

This is an option that allows you to care for a loved one if you work during the day. Adult Foster Care centers can be very expensive but the expenses can sometimes be covered through Medicaid under the MI choice waiver program.

Assisted Living:

Assisted Living facilities are perfect for a loved one in an early stage of a disease like Alzheimer’s. The nursing staff can assist the patient with bathing, eating, medication and laundry. A homelike environment can be created in their room and there are recreational and social opportunities for residents. The downside to assisted living is that generally the expenses must be covered through private pay.

There is no place like home:

If staying in the home with the patient and providing all of their care is a feasible option, it is important to consider the affect this transition would have on the entire household’s privacy and daily life. It is also pertinent to consider if your home is a safe living environment for the loved one with Alzheimer’s.

There are many professionals that can assist you with caring for your loved one at home including a geriatric care manager, friendly visitors, family caregiver support programs, and senior centers.

As the primary caregiver of your loved one, it is important to recognize that you can’t do it alone. It is important to take some time to yourself to maintain your own health – which is just as important as maintaining the health of the patient. Getting in touch with your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s association can provide you with caregiving training. It is also extremely important to be prepared for the day when you can no longer care for your loved one by meeting with an elder law attorney and visiting possible nursing homes or assisted living facilities.