The man served in the military. He was loyal…devoted to his country. He became upset when Old Glory hanging outside of the assisted living facility was faded and starting to tear. He was cognizant…he was alert…he was independent…yet his family placed him into an assisted living facility against his better judgment.
Did he need to be there? Had he been lonely? Was he such a danger to himself that the family was willing to pay the much higher price of putting their father in a home as opposed to staying in his own home?
These are questions that families and their loved ones wrestle with when things begin to change with age-related issues. Naturally, there are pros and cons to being in a facility as there are for staying in familiar surroundings where one is comfortable and relaxed. Here are some of those advantages of having an aide come from Maya Homecare to assist you or your loved one:
- COST: The price difference has already been mentioned above, so we’ll start there. In NJ, assisted living facilities can START at $4500 per MONTH…and that’s usually if you are independent and don’t need assistance with anything! You can probably tack on an additional $1200+/month if he/she needs help with medications. Any care that is provided has an additional cost, which usually increases as time marches on and more help is required. Of course, you can count on annual increases to rent and services like most businesses do, but they can jump higher than average cost of living in AL facilities.
- ONE ROOM: It’s tough for anyone who has to move from their spacious homes and consolidate their entire life into one room…maybe two depending on how much extra you’re willing to pay for a luxury apartment in assisted living. Tough choices will have to be made as to what furniture will go into the AL room you have rented…which usually boils down to a bed, dresser, nightstand, couch, chair, TV and maybe a table for two if you can find room for it. It’s a very stressful time to make big decisions such as these, not as much as what you will take with you, but more as to what you will leave behind or sell or send to the dump.
- PERSONAL TOUCH: In assisted living facilities, there are generally 3-4 aides who provide care for the residents. The ratio is supposed to be around 1:8 caregiver to residents, but you will find most facilities are vastly understaffed for one reason or another. Now, these caregivers work hard and a lot of times don’t even get a break during their entire shift. Some of these amazing people work double-shifts to help cover the shortages and make sure the residents are cared for, but the ratio tends to rest at 1:15, depending on levels of care…one aide for 15 residents who each need help with showers, grooming, toileting, getting dressed and moving about the community. The time doesn’t always add up like it does if you have one aide who comes to your home to take care of YOU or your loved one. Their attention is not divided. They are dedicated to care for one person.
There may come a time when a person requires the care needed in an assisted living facility or a nursing home, but there are some clear advantages to bringing in an aide from Maya Homecare. They get to know you and your loved one, they get to know what they like or (sometimes more importantly) DON’T like and they can work closely with you to ensure a positive experience in your own home. Call us today at 908.264.0021 to move forward in this part of the journey.
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