A recent poll survey found that a vast majority of seniors want to remain in their own homes as they get older. However, the necessity of care may make this choice impracticable or even dangerous.
Residential care homes, fortunately, are an option. However, compared to a hospital or other institutional, a care home is more like a second home.
It’s common to feel overwhelmed by the plethora of care phrases available while researching residential care facilities.
The decision to place a loved one in assisted living can be difficult and emotional for families. Many issues must be considered, including the loved one’s level of care needs, the potential for loss of independence, and the acceptance of primary caregiving responsibilities being handed over to a third party.
What exactly is a residential care facility? The short answer is that a residential home provides care for people over 65 who need extra assistance with daily tasks.
RCFEs, or residential care facilities for the elderly, are another name for residential care homes, adult family homes, board and care homes, and personal care homes. These facilities offer top-notch care for seniors in a warm and welcoming setting.
To help you or a loved one decide if a residential care home is appropriate for senior living, I’ve compiled some information here.
I explain the benefits and drawbacks of residential care homes, compare care homes and other forms of senior care, and investigate the cost of care homes and finance options.
What Are Residential Care Homes?
Regarding senior care, residential care homes are designed for those requiring constant supervision and help. In a warm and welcoming setting, these homes provide excellent medical care and security.
This is a wonderful choice for retirees looking for a more peaceful, intimate, and homey environment.
Residential care homes for the elderly (RCFE’s) are as stylistically and administratively diverse as the houses themselves. The activities at some are high energy while at others, they’re more laid back. However, high-quality housing, medical attention, nutritional support, and social interaction are essential components of every residential care home for the elderly.
A care home is a community that helps the individual with activities of daily living. The level of care provided by RCFEs is sometimes comparable to that of assisted living facilities, but the communities themselves are often smaller. For example, care homes typically have ten or fewer individuals, but assisted living facilities might have hundreds.
Seniors who are timid or prefer their own company may like the small size. Residents of care facilities may also receive more individualized care than those living in larger communities.
Some states need to differentiate between assisted living facilities and personal care homes when it comes to regulations. However, the standard of care may vary in other contexts. There are different types of residential care facilities.
Some cater to folks who simply want to socialize but do not require constant assistance with things like dressing or bathing. In contrast, others provide comprehensive care that includes all of the ADLs. In addition, there may be an opportunity to administer medication and basic medical care, depending on available staff.
Benefits of Residential Care Homes
A residential care home’s advantages stem from its smaller size and focus on certain care. What follows is a more in-depth examination of a few of the most significant benefits.
1. Peace of Mind
Having peace of mind that a loved one is secure, cared for, and amongst supportive friends and family is a wonderful feeling.
You may put your mind at ease knowing that your loved one’s care and personal requirements will be addressed thanks to the expertise of residential care facilities, and instead focus on enjoying quality time with the people who matter most to you.
2. Security And Assistance
The greatest advantage of residential care facilities is the fact that their residents are safe. When older people can no longer care for themselves at home, residential care provides them with a safe and secure alternative.
Your loved one can live in peace knowing that all of their needs will be met and that they will be in a secure setting.
In a care facility, there is someone on duty to assist. Assistance around the corner can be a lifesaver for older people who struggle with social isolation and mobility issues or who need to take multiple medications daily but frequently forget.
3. Regularly Scheduled Meals
It’s concerning when family and friends have trouble eating or meeting their nutritional needs. Residential care facilities guarantee their occupants get enough to eat and drink by providing home-cooked meals on a regular schedule and assisting occupants who wish to prepare their own meals.
4. Companionship
You and your loved ones will also benefit from the friendships that can be formed in a residential care facility. Your loved one can feel less lonely if they are able to interact with different people throughout the day, from seeing a familiar face at breakfast to chatting with friends in the garden in the afternoon.
Staff members often form close bonds with residents, and they are in a unique position to comfort you and your loved one as a family during this trying time.
5. Plans And Schedules
Lacking close loved ones or friends can make even the most friendly person feel isolated. There is a large variety of activities available to residents in care facilities on a daily basis, which is another excellent perk. Anything from having performers come through to gardening and exercise sessions led by locals could fall into this category.
Members of residential care facilities generally behave like they are of similar age groups and share similar interests. Group activities are a wonderful way of fostering a feeling of community inside a home and helping the elderly meet new friends. Participating in group pursuits is also a wonderful method for warding off isolation.
6. Care From Specialists
Providing certain types of care at home might be challenging. For example, those in need of more intensive care, such as help with movement or bathing, can sometimes find it at residential care homes, which often offer specialized services or have access to specialized equipment.
7. Administration of Medications
You may rest assured that a loved one won’t forget to take their medication while living in a residential care facility. The staff takes care of that by reminding the patient to take their medication or giving it to them.
Drawbacks of Residential Care Homes
Interestingly, the same aspects of care facilities that some people find helpful can be a burden to others. Though smaller care facilities can provide more individualized attention to each patient, they sometimes have fewer services available. For instance, assisted living facilities are known to provide more services than care homes.
The lack of luxuries like a barbershop, tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art fitness facility is unavoidable due to the fact that most care homes are single-family homes rather than huge complexes. In addition, due to staffing constraints, a care facility may not be able to provide as many supplementary services, such as transportation.
If your elderly loved one is looking to make new friends and get involved in the community, assisted living may be a better option than a care facility. Care facilities are more likely to offer laid-back activity schedules when there are fewer residents.
This might be a positive for seniors who value their independence and enjoy unstructured social interactions. Still, it can be a drawback for those who are looking forward to the companionship that comes with residential care.
Services And Amenities Available At Residential Care Homes
Care homes ensure their resident’s safety and allow them the freedom to maintain as much autonomy as they like by providing a wide range of services and amenities. While each care facility may provide a slightly different set of amenities and services, most will at least cover the basics.
- Assisting with daily hygiene activities like getting dressed and bathing.
- The residents’ loved ones play a vital role in the home’s care coordination.
- Meals that have already been prepared, usually by the kitchen staff, and can be modified for special diets.
- Maintenance of room and home and laundering of clothes.
- Social interaction.
- Various get-togethers and events.
- Assistance and monitoring are available at all times.
When compared to hospitals, care homes are much more like single-family homes in size and layout. Thus they only have a few luxuries to offer residents. However, there will still be communal spaces for people to gather and unwind in, and some facilities may even feature backyards for residents to enjoy the fresh air.
Given the wide variety of options available, it is crucial to investigate the specific services and organizational framework of any care facility you are considering for yourself or a loved one.
Is Your Loved One a Right Fit For a Residential Home?
Although RCFEs are home to thousands of seniors around the country, there are better options for some seniors. Below are some descriptions of people who could benefit from living in a residential care facility.
1. You Require Assistance With ADLs But do Not Require Constant Medical Attention
Personal care, including help with ADLs, is provided by care homes. Hygiene routines, including showering, getting dressed, and grooming, fall within this category. Care home aides can help with ADLs and personal care, but they are not qualified to give any medical treatment beyond first aid.
2. You’ve Reached a Point Where You Need Help to Keep up With Basic Home Maintenance And Errands
Seniors, especially those with mobility issues, may find it particularly challenging to keep up with the arduous task of home maintenance. Cleaning and laundry are taken care of by the care home personnel so that residents can live a completely hands-off existence.
3. You Prefer Solo Activities And do Your Best in Intimate Settings
Care homes, like assisted living facilities, aim to help their clients keep as much of their independence as possible. However, in contrast to assisted living facilities, care homes are typically quiet tiny communities.
Individuals who are more comfortable in quieter settings or who do better in smaller groups may find residential care facilities to be a good fit. In addition, because of the community’s modest size, people will have more freedom in determining how they spend their time.
4. You Need The Security of Around-The-Clock Care, But You Prefer to Live in a More Familiar Environment
When it comes to the safety and well-being of their loved ones, many older people and their families make the decision to move into a residential care facility. Although there are many benefits to senior living, some seniors may be hesitant to make the transition because they fear being forced to live in a large apartment complex.
Residential care facilities are an attractive option for those in this predicament. Care homes, which more closely resemble a “regular” home, may be an easier transition for certain people than assisted living facilities.
Residential Care Homes Against Other Accommodation Options For The Seniors
1. Assisted Living Facilities vs. Residential Care Homes
Assisted living facilities and care homes provide the same quality of care. The main difference is the size of the respective communities. Care homes normally accommodate between four and ten individuals, whereas assisted living communities may house hundreds.
The amount of care provided by each of these options for seniors is equivalent, so deciding which one is best for you comes down to your preferences. For example, seniors who wish to keep themselves active and engaged will do well in a large assisted living home with a full social calendar.
Those who are more reserved or who enjoy spending their time alone or in small groups may feel more at ease in a residential care facility.
2. Residential Care Homes vs. Nursing Homes
Among the several housing options for senior citizens, nursing homes offer more medical care. Nursing facilities specialize in providing medical help to patients with both chronic and acute diseases, while care homes provide personal care services but no medical treatment.
To provide this medical attention, nursing homes typically have more nurses and doctors on staff than care homes.
Nursing homes are ideal for older people who require the constant attention of a nurse or doctor. These include frequent medical procedures like injections or infusions or offering care to those who are recovering from a serious illness or injury.
3. Residential Care Homes vs. Memory Care
Memory care facilities are unique among retirement communities. Older people who have cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia might find help in memory care facilities.
For elders with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, certain care facilities may go above and above by providing specialized services, although individual attention is still prioritized. For example, one of these memory care homes is ideal for older people who are suffering from memory loss.
Cost of Residential Care Homes
Prices for care homes and assisted living facilities are comparable because the care provided is identical in both. The average cost per month of assisted living is $4,300, as reported by Genworth Financial. Similar amounts can be expected to be paid for care homes, while actual costs will vary greatly depending on location.
The number of available services, the level of expertise of the employees, and other factors can all affect the final price.
Financial Assistance For Residential Care Homes
It’s crucial to know that Medicare does not cover residential care homes; only nursing homes are under specified conditions. Seniors in need of financial assistance for long-term care, however, do have alternative choices. Below, I discuss some options from where seniors citizens can get.
1. Medicaid
Regular Medicaid does not cover care facilities. However, these facilities are often fully funded in jurisdictions where home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers exist. These waiver programs give seniors more freedom in selecting their preferred long-term care option.
It is vital to learn the specifics of Medicaid waivers in your state, as both their availability and the scope of services they cover might vary widely.
2. Aid And Assistance
Veterans and their spouses who qualify for this benefit receive a monthly stipend that can be used to cover the costs of long-term care. Aid and Attendance is a monthly benefit paid in addition to a Veteran’s VA pension that can be used to cover the cost of caregiving services such as assisted living or nursing facility stays.
The official VA website has more details on qualification criteria.
3. Life Insurance
To offset the high cost of long-term care, some seniors decide to cash in their life insurance policies at a younger age. You may be able to take out a percentage of the full benefit value of your life insurance policy, known as an “accelerated death benefit,” with certain policies.
Policyholders who prefer cash over the value of their coverage can sell their insurance to a third-party settlement provider. The long-term effects of taking your benefit early should be taken into account regardless of your choice.
4. Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance can be purchased to help pay for things like nursing facility stays that may be unexpectedly expensive. However, because each policy is unique in its coverage and specifics, it’s important to double-check with your insurance company to find out exactly what kinds of residential care are covered.
Since most seniors are ineligible to get long-term care insurance, this choice is limited to those already having a policy.
5. Reverse Mortgages
Borrowing against the equity in one’s house is possible through the use of a reverse mortgage. One option for seniors who need to pay for residential care but want to wait to sell their house immediately is to cash out some of their home equity. The loans must be repaid in full, with interest, by the due date.
Wrapping Up
Considerations should be made before settling on a particular residential care home for a family member. When making any final selections, they should make sure they’re comfortable on the property. The hygiene of the facility and the ratio of staff to residents are also important criteria to weigh.
Check out the lodgings next. When booking a room for a loved one, do you know if they would like a private, semi-private, or shared space? Check out the selection they have. Approximately how many older people are assigned to each restroom? Are there lots of friendly and frequent interactions between the locals? Check out the nurses and other personnel and see how they treat the residents.
Finally, take a good look around the house and the surroundings. Is there enough light? Are the grounds kept neat and tidy? Is there a lack of potential trip and fall hazards on the property’s interior and exterior?
Trust your instincts after touring several facilities to choose which one is best for your loved one.
References
- https://www.assistedliving.org/care-homes/
- https://www.assistedlivingcenter.com/what-are-residential-care-homes/
- https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/residential-care-homes
- https://liaise.com/12-facts-you-should-know-about-residential-care-homes/
- https://www.agincare.com/news/residential-care-home-10-tips-choosing-care-home/
- https://dailycaring.com/what-is-a-residential-care-home/
- https://www.brendoncare.org.uk/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-residential-care-homes
- https://www.avonparkcarehome.co.uk/why-are-residential-care-homes-important
