Friday, November 6, 2009

A Look At The Stages Of Care For The Aging

By Edward William

Everyone is aging but in today's society, many countries are approaching a point where people over the age of sixty will outnumber the younger generations. This is because better health care is helping people live longer, more productive lives. Getting the right kind of aging care is important if you want to keep enjoying a good quality of life.

You need to understand that there are different options that may suit some people better than others. Specific health problems may require specialised care especially in the later stages of some diseases. Conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's may mean that customized health care approaches are necessary.

There are different levels of care that aging adults may want to explore. If you are in reasonably good health but need help with some chores and tasks, you may want to consider having a housekeeper or cook come into your home. There are companies which offer support staff in order to allow people to remain in their homes as they age. This can give seniors a great feeling of independence and pride.

Once you are in a position where you are no longer willing or able to live in your home, consider moving into an assisted living facility. These allow you to have your own private room but you have the security of round the clock emergency monitoring. Depending on the facility you are living in, there are usually meals served in a communal dining room, and housekeeping services to keep your room or apartment clean and in good condition. These facilities also usually offer organized activities such as shopping trips, movies and other fun things to do. This keeps your mind and body active.

The next step in aging care is normally a nursing home. This is often reserved for people who are physically unable to care for themselves. You will often live in a ward, although some facilities do have private or semi-private rooms. The facilities are often set up more like a hospital than an apartment complex. They normally have ways of handling people with diseases like Alzheimer's or dementia, since these individuals like to wander and may need watching and extra security measures.

Once aging has reached a very advanced stage, you may need to use palliative care to provide you with personal care until you pass on. This can be a hard decision to make especially since it is normally being made on behalf of a loved one, instead of by the loved one themselves.

Aging care is rapidly becoming a growth industry. People are requiring more care for longer periods of time and the different levels of physical needs has caused people to need specialized aging care. Knowing what stage you or a family member has reached is the key to getting the care you, or they, need.

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