Picture this: You have two senior people who need care. One of them is 55 years old and has just retired. She is healthy and is able to care for herself. The other one marked their 81st birthday the other day and has been living with high blood pressure for a while, mobility issues notwithstanding. With these scenarios in mind, do you think these individuals require the same levels of care for elderly? Absolutely not.
Now, what are the levels of care for the elderly? These denote care services offered to older adults, depending on their individual needs, and may prompt different levels of support and assistance. Read on to learn more.
What Are the Levels of Care for the Elderly?
When you are busy searching for support, remember there are different levels of care for elderly available. The level of assistance provided can vary depending on the senior person’s needs. Learn how to determine level of care for elderly by checking the options below:
In-Home Care
If you go for this option, the older adult receives care services from a skilled caregiver, family member, or friend while at home. This can range from regular help with daily activities and chores to round-the-clock care, especially for patients with chronic conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Assisted Living
This care option is ideal for elderly individuals who want some level of support because they are unable to perform routine activities alone. In this case, the person lives in an apartment and receives assistance with daily tasks. There are also nice communal spaces where seniors dine and interact with each other.
Respite (Short-Term) Care
As the primary caregiver of your loved one, you need a break from time to time. Respite care comes in handy during these periods. Here, a professional caregiver takes over meeting the needs of the older adult for several hours or days within a week as you rest. This care can be offered at home, a health facility, or an adult day care center.
Hospice Care
Hospice care is for a person with a terminal illness who needs support and comfort before they die. The settings can differ, with services being delivered at home, specialized hospice centers, or assisted living facilities.
Exploring the Different Levels of Elderly Care
Understanding the levels of elderly care is important to ensure you choose the correct one. Let’s take a closer look at every level:
Level One: Covers Basic Needs
Early elderly care focuses on offering basic support for the senior adult who can still live independently for the most part. So, the service is delivered on an informal or part-time basis by a family member, friend, or hired professional several times per week. The goal is to promote independence and the senior’s quality of life.
Level Two: Offers Regular Assistance
Next in the levels of care for the elderly is level two, which is tailored for senior persons needing regular assistance due to age-related issues or mild health conditions. The difference with level one is that the individual’s limitations are more severe, making assisted living necessary. As such, they are aided in performing activities of daily living. The caregiver can offer part-time or full-time services; it all depends on the limitations the senior person has.
Level Three: Focuses on Comprehensive Support
This targets older adults with moderate health issues or functional limitations needing more comprehensive support and help with daily tasks. In this case, the individual may have mobility impairment, cognitive decline, or chronic conditions, prompting continuous assistance.
Level Four: Provides Progressed Care
Level four offers the highest level of support and assistance. This is because the individual under care has complex health conditions, severe functional limitations, or other issues. The professionals have to look after the patient all the time in a nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or memory care unit.
How to Determine the Appropriate Level of Care for Elderly
With several levels of care for the elderly available, it can be tricky to determine the exact one your loved one needs. But here’s a guide to help you:
Needs Assessment
What’s the person’s health status? Do they have sensory impairments or memory issues? It’s also recommended to consider their mobility, cognitive function, medical history, ongoing healthcare needs, and medication regimen. Notably, a healthcare provider can help you with this assessment.
Evaluate Activities of Daily Living
Different levels of care for elderly offer various levels of assistance. With that in mind, can the elderly person bathe or dress themselves? Check whether they can take care of their other needs, such as eating, moving around, going to the toilet, taking medication, housekeeping, meal preparation, and more. This helps to identify the extent of assistance that’s necessary.
Think About Social Support
Consider the family members or friends who are ready to offer support. Know their availability and in case you can access informal caregivers, determine their capacity to help with daily activities, emotional support, and supervision.
Search for Care Options
Research the levels of elderly care options provided within your area. These can include in-home care services, assisted living facilities, independent living communities, etc. If possible, know what your loved one prefers, and don’t forget to factor in your budget when looking for the ideal option.
Levels of Elderly Care: From Independent Living to Full-time Nursing Care
Levels of elderly care can vary based on the older adult’s needs. Find below the common types, from independent living to full-time nursing (and a few in between):
Independent Living
This one can suit your aging parent or relative if they want to live on their own, given they have little or no health issues and can take care of themselves. In many cases, the facilities where the elderly reside don’t need on-site nurses or doctors.
Memory Care
This is one of the levels of care for the elderly that addresses the cognitive and psychological needs of patients suffering from conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia. The services offered normally focus on safety and improving the resident’s cognitive and social abilities for better quality of life.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
These facilities are equipped with licensed nurses who offer round-the-clock care and supervision services for residents with intensive medical needs. This makes them ideal for seniors requiring wound care, pain management, post-surgical rehab, injections, cognitive management, etc.
Residential Care Homes
Residential care homes are designed to offer a home-like setting with individualized care for a small group of residents. They don’t deliver specific medical care or other types of specialized care. In some cases, the senior adults may be assisted with certain activities of daily living, but not all. The main emphasis here is community living.
Customizing Elderly Care According to What Are the Different Levels of Care for the Elderly
Now that you know what are the different levels of care for the elderly, yours is to ensure the care selected is customized according to your loved one’s needs. Here’s how:
Individualized Care Plans
Work with a professional and the older adult to create a care plan that meets their specific needs and preferences. Listen to what your loved one wants and ensure it is integrated into the final plan, along with other recommendations from the healthcare provider. This goes a long way in preserving the older person’s dignity and autonomy.
Focus on a Holistic Approach
Various levels of elderly care operate differently, but no matter the option you choose, ensure all the aspects of your loved one’s needs are met. In addition to offering health and ADL services to the older adult, the facility should also address their mental, emotional, and spiritual/cultural needs to promote their overall wellbeing.
Flexibility and Adaptability
The needs of the elderly evolve as their age advances or health conditions change. Flexibility in care means that several aspects of the care can be adjusted to accommodate new needs, such as hospital discharge, sudden sickness, or changes in living arrangements. This guarantees continuity of care and decreases stress for the senior and the family.
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