What are My Care Options?

What Are My Choices about How and Where Help Is Provided? Or Is a Nursing Home the Only Choice?

Many elders and/or their family members looking at potential care communities do not know what the options are for different types of care. Below we have compiled descriptions of the different options for care for in-home care and long-term living.

Everyone ages differently. Many elders live independently. Others need help with their physical care and ability to manage in their homes. In the past, a person who needed help had few options outside of their family or a nursing home. But now, because of nursing home cost and consumer demand, a full range of care options and services are more available so that people are able to remain in their own homes longer. If health declines and help is needed that cannot be provided in the home, there are now different types of living arrangements and housing settings available.

Many of us are faced with making long-term care decisions during a time of crisis, when we are under stress. Long-term care is at times a complicated “puzzle.”  It helps to spend time learning about all of the options and the “vocabulary” of long-term care before you need it. The illustrations on the next page summarize the options that are currently available.

Options and Services If You Are In Your Own Home

If you are still living in your own home and you need additional help, click below for descriptions of care options and services that may be available to you:

Options and Services to Help You Feel “At Home” in Nursing Home or Long-Term Living

If the time comes when you need, or choose, to move from your home to a different care setting, you click below for descriptions of care options and services that may be available to you:

For information about how to access these services and to find out what is available in your area, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.  For contact information, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or go to www.eldercare.gov.

As mentioned before, culture change and person-directed values are applicable for care delivered in all settings. Although most of the emphasis has been on nursing homes, change needs to happen throughout the array of long-term care services. Providers in various settings, such as assisted living, adult day services, and home care are assessing where they are when it comes to person-directed care. They are exploring how they can do a better job in ensuring that individuals receiving care in those settings have as much control over their daily lives as possible, and the ability to develop meaningful relationships and enjoy life to the fullest extent possible.

Click here to read or download Creating Home: A Guide to Better Care Options.