Caring for Elderly Parents: Transitional Care of a Nursing Home or Private Duty Home Care

There is a point in our lives where the decision arises of where to place our loved ones after a period of health crisis. Let's navigate finding the best tools and strategies on where to start when it comes transitional care.

Transition of Care

Transitional Care is a time when your loved one may have recently been discharged from a hospital, received a critical diagnosis, or prognosis and a decision is needing to be made on what would best suit the patient in a time of transition. Transitional care can look like most commonly:

• Placing your loved one in a rehab facility after an injury, illness, or recent surgery to be rehabilitated for a period of time to learn how to acquire skills like Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy while physical needs are being taken care of.

• Deciding to place your loved one in a nursing home facility to due challenges of being able to take care of your loved one at home.

• Making the decision to hire a Private Duty Nursing Agency to care for your loved one to alleviate some of the weight off of the family while other responsibilities are being taken care of.

• Placing your loved one in assisted living to bring them community and assistance to their daily task.

Determining a Plan of Support

When assessing your next decision in caring for your loved ones, it is advised to determine what level support and assistance is present, and what time and resources are available to the family.

Benefits of Private Duty vs Nursing Home

Nursing Homes and Private Duty care are both beneficial mechanisms to ensure your loved one is treated with proper care and attendance. Nursing homes are good for those who do not have the resources to care for their loved ones but desires for them to have community. Nursing Homes allows each resident to still have some independence by having sometimes a shareable living quarters, but also create relationship with the plethora of staff and residents. Nursing Homes will assist with any mobility, dietary, medication management, cleaning, and any other support that is needed to the resident. Some nursing homes provide events for residents to stay active in the home. This is a great opportunity to keep your loved one active, especially if they are lacking in fellowship and battling loneliness.

Private Duty care is also a great resource for residents that need additional assistance, family is lacking in time or resources, but also has the desire to keep their loved one in their home. Private Duty allows residence to get 1:1 care and fellowship. Similar to school systems, there is a deficiency in 1:1 support due to the ratio of students to teachers. This is very similar to the care of a nursing home. However, hiring a private duty staff member allows that staff member to dedicate themselves and focus on your loved one. It allows a relationship to grow, home routines to be created, and reduces loneliness in their home. Private Duty can provide all of the same resources, it is just more of an intimate setting. Some staff members turn into family, and the house that was once quiet now becomes a home again.

Do What's Best for Your Loved One

We are here to support you in whichever you choose! If you need assistance in learning more about both options, feel free to book a FREE consultation.