Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Choosing The Right Senior Bridge Program For Your Loved One

By Maria Kelly


Staying at home is the first choice for almost all seniors when they consider how they want to spend the final years of their lives. This will not turn out to be an option for some older citizens. Some do not the funds necessary to pay for full time in-home health care. Others need the kind of special care that can only be found in skilled facilities. The senior bridge program can tailor services to provide as little or as much in-home assistance required.

Some older individuals only need occasional help with housecleaning and yard maintenance. They may still be able to do everything else for themselves including driving to appointments, grocery shopping, cooking, and personal hygiene. Most of these people have a support network of friends and neighbors who look out for each other. Families often hire workers without specialized skills to help their loved ones with these tasks.

As people lose mobility, it may get harder to leave their homes. They might go for days without seeing or talking to another individual. Most of these seniors appreciate the services of a companion who comes to check up on them and sit and talk. These companions can also assist with grocery shopping, check to make sure the senior is taking all medications and has not run out of prescriptions. They can drive him or her to doctor's appointments and serve as dinner partners and sounding boards.

For those who need more help, there are individuals who can work with these seniors making sure they keep doctors appointments, take their medications on time, and follow their physician's recommendations. They can also assist with paying bills, coordinating benefits with government agencies and insurance companies, and giving family member regular updates regarding their loved one.

Seniors with physical disabilities or dementia may have to have someone with them at all times. Live-in caregivers are trained to give medications, assist with personal hygiene and routine therapy exercises. They may also have to cook, clean, and become a companion for the elderly patient.

Seniors with serious health issues may need private nursing care. Registered nurses can be hired to come to into the home to administer injections, change feeding tubes, replace bandages, and check tracheostomy tubes, oxygen, and ventilators.

It is not unusual for an older citizen to require more and more help as they age. It is a good idea for family members in charge of their care to consider a program that has the flexibility to increase the amount of assistance as the need arises. A professional agency can work with the family to access the kind of care needed, the costs associated with it, and suggest possible resources to provide it.

Seniors who live at home are usually healthier and happier. If it is financially feasible, this should be the first choice of the loved ones in charge of their care.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment