Nursing homes are special long-term care centers dedicated to taking care of older adults who require an expert level of care often brought about by a complicated health condition. You may need to move your loved one from a nursing home for many reasons. If your loved one’s health conditions improve and they do not require advanced assistance to get by, or the elder is classified as a low-need resident, you might have to consider leaving a nursing home and moving to Assisted Living in Columbia, MD.
Essentially, Assisted Living communities are meant for older folks who can look after themselves without over-relying on caregivers. Nonetheless, transitioning from a nursing home to Assisted Living is not a walk in the park. You have to keep in mind that your loved one could have an emotional attachment to the nursing home, thus making it hard to move. Here are important tips for a smooth transition.
Determine the Level of Support Provided by Assisted Living
Nursing homes are an excellent long-term care alternative for aging individuals who need advanced care. Therefore, you should only consider moving your aging relative to a community that will provide the level of support that complements their needs. To do that, you must inquire about the kind of services rendered by the Assisted Living center.
You should also be keen about the medical care situation since an older adult transitioning from a nursing home will still need occasional medical assistance to fully recuperate. Likewise, you need to research and consult extensively about the assisted care fees and the service package they offer. Take time to inquire about different programs for wellness and socialization. Ideally, you need as much information as possible to choose a proper Assisted Living center that will offer the best care to your aging relative.
Find Out Your Loved One’s Level of Need
For the transition to be smooth and successful, you must determine whether your loved one has the physical and mental capacity to cope with life away from the nursing home. As mentioned before, nursing homes are ideal for older adults with complex health problems or limited mobility. If your relative is still in a critical health condition or immobile, moving out of a nursing home would not be a viable option.
On the same note, the transition to Assisted Living might be troublesome if your aging family member still requires specialized care. The best way to find out the level of care your loved one needs is by consulting a doctor, nursing home caregivers or medical professionals.
Only a low-need resident is fit to transition to Assisted Living communities. Equally, you should listen to how your loved one feels about their current condition and whether the move is ideal for them.
Have an Alternative Plan
As much as it is possible to transition from a nursing home into Assisted Living, you should not ignore the fact that things might not go according to plan. Certain things might prevent the move, with cost being the biggest stumbling block. Other than that, the level of care offered in the Assisted Living center might not be adequate in addressing the needs of your loved one. In the same vein, your loved one’s health condition could worsen, necessitating a move back to the nursing home. Thus, you should have a contingency plan in case things go south.
It is possible to move your loved one from a nursing home into Assisted Living. However, you need to ascertain whether the older adult is in good condition to transition to an accommodation with a lower care level. Similarly, you should find out if your preferred Assisted Living community has what it takes to look after your aging relative in the best way possible.
