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Gauging the benefits and downsides of leaving your home to live in an aged care facility can be hard and oftentimes emotional. While it seems easier to stay in the familiarity and comfort of your own house, moving into an aged care home has a wide array worth of benefits worth considering.
An aged care home is a purpose-built community where you get professional and personalized care in a supported and safe setting. Also referred to as nursing homes or residential aged care centres, aged care homes are the best option for older adults who can longer live independently or require round-the-clock care and support.
Aside from personalized and professional support, they also make sure they tackle challenges across their communities to continuously offer quality services to all their senior clients. For instance, they work with trustworthy aged care research consultants to help them with market analysis, strategic planning, and other data-gathering projects designed to develop significant market insights about the community home care sector.
They use the data and insights gathered by their research partners to address problems and improve their overall services for the benefit of their residents. This is probably one of the reasons why an aged care home remains a comfortable and safe place for senior residents.
With all this in mind, let us delve deeper into some of the many benefits of aged care homes:
Professional & Personalized Care
Perhaps the best thing about an aged care home is the fact that you will get round the clock care and support from skilled and qualified staff in accordance with your personalized care plan. Also, you will have access to a network of reliable and trustworthy practitioners. You get to enjoy peace of mind with the knowledge that the staff members are actively monitoring your health to ascertain the best level of care and support.
Depending on your needs, you have access to both clinical and personal care. The latter entails eating, taking medication, bathing, etc. The former includes special bedding and service like podiatry, physiotherapy, and speech therapy.
Comfy Accommodation
When you get into aged home care, you will have a selection of care suites and facilities to pick from like shared or private suites. Your residence will have all the essential furnishings and furniture like armchairs, wardrobe, bedside table, bedding and toiletries. Some residences may also offer other furnishings such as a TV, computer and internet access. You’ll be able to personalise your room with small things like artwork, keepsakes and pictures. Depending on the size of your suite, it might be also possible to take some of your furniture items from home, like your favourite chair or table.
Social Connection
Living in a nursing home can lend your social life a makeover by building new connections and friendships. Most aged care homes provide a wide array of activities to support the mental, physical and social wellbeing of the elderly. A few examples include movies, pet therapy, knitting groups, men’s shed activities, craft groups, etc. Most aged care homes also provide bus outings to the theatre, cafes and shops.
Support with the Daily Tasks
Living in a nursing home means that the day to day tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening etc., are all handled. Meals and drinks are prepared for you and the menu is created in consultation with you and your loved ones. If necessary, you can work with a dietician to ensure you get healthy and balanced meals. Typically, you will get 3 meals per day. Once you move into the residence, you can also tell the staff of any special dietary requirements you might have.
Respite Care
Another benefit of aged care homes is respite care, an option for support when the carer or loved one takes a break. With this option, you get to live alongside other aged residents and get the same care and support. Everyone’s situation is different as you can choose to get respite care services as often as you want. Also, keep in mind it will be subsidized for a maximum of 63 days per year.
Safety
Elderly care homes, as mentioned earlier, have staff on duty round the clock. This is one of the most important elements to consider when looking at care options. As when we get older, our senses tend to decline and even the simplest of tasks can be dangerous. For example, if you fall in a nursing home. There will be staff members ready to assist you, as opposed to the same thing happening at home.
Additional Services
Any extra services available will vary between each facility. These services can include things such as an on-site hairdresser, newspaper or flowers delivery, beer or wine with dinner, etc. These services can be charged on a per-use basis, or as part of the package. It all comes down to your needs and the facility’s system.
Conclusion
Throughout their lives, senior people have always thought about working hard to earn a living, taking responsibility for the welfare of the family, and maintaining strong relationships with their loved ones. But at some point, they’re also looking for a more peaceful and secure life, especially as they grow older.
Hence, with the information mentioned above, it’s safe to say that aged care homes can be beneficial for older people who can’t live on their own anymore. If you’re looking for a conducive place where you can live as you age, consider the community centers in your area as an option.