Several weeks ago, a dear family friend of mine suffered a devastating stroke. For a few days, his family members didn’t know if he would survive this event. Thankfully, he did. Now, he is undergoing the slow recovery process in a nursing home. Since his stroke, his family has been amazing. They visit him daily at the nursing facility. They have even decorated his room in an effort to make him feel like he is at home. If your loved one has recently been admitted to a nursing home, don’t despair. You may be able to help your loved one adjust to this living situation better by being supportive. On this blog, you will discover the ways to make your loved one’s transition to a nursing home easier.
A Home Away from Home
Why Adult Day Care Centers May Be Right For Your Parent
Johnny Rodriguez
Are you the sole caretaker for one or both of your elderly parents? Do you have a full time job, but you're concerned about leaving your parents home alone during the day? If your parents are still at least partially independent, you may be struggling with how best to make sure that they are safe and looked after while you're at work. If you've only vaguely heard of such a thing before, here are some reasons why an adult day care center may be just what you're looking for:
Socialization: Despite your best efforts, you simply can't replace social interaction with people who are your parents age. You and your parent may love each other, but your two generations will have different experiences and different topics to discuss. At an adult day care center, your parent can talk with people who are his or her own age. They may choose to discuss the current state of politics or simply swap childhood memories, but they are almost certain to enjoy their conversations and making new friends.
Different care levels: While an adult day care center isn't the same thing as a nursing home, good ones are still set up with different levels of care for adults who have slightly different needs. If your parent is a fall risk, there are staff who can help him or her stand and make sure that they don't fall when they move over to the restroom or to watch TV. Staff should also be available to assist with feeding or changing adult diapers, if your parent needs a little more support.
Support while you run errands: Even if you have no need to work, you may still need someone to look after your parent from time to time instead of leaving them home alone or taking them along with you. For example, as people age, they sometimes regress to a child-like mental state and stop being able to tell when they're saying something inappropriate. This could lead to them loudly arguing with the grocery store clerks when you go shopping, insisting that the store should stock a particular item that is no longer being sold. They may also start demanding to know how much longer you'll be looking at clothes, even if you only got to the mall a few minutes ago. Instead of dragging your parent out on errands that they want no part in, leave them at your local adult day care center where they can enjoy various activities while you take care of important matters.
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