Deciding when to send your loved one to a nursing home can be a tricky subject, one that has caused many arguments across many families across America. The chances are, your loved one doesn’t feel ready to move into a nursing home. However, caring for your loved one may be starting to take its toll on your life. If this is the case, then you have to make that decision for the benefit of yourself and your other family members.
Perhaps your loved one is ready to move into a nursing home. If they require regular medical attention, it could be easier for everyone involved to move them somewhere with on-call medical attention. You might be wondering, “do nursing homes accept patients with feeding tubes” along with other questions. To put it bluntly, it varies. It all depends on what kind of care your loved one needs. This will dictate which care home you should send them to.
You might have to make the hard decision for both of you if your loved one is struggling to live on their own. Carers, friends, and family can only do so much sometimes. You may even have to look at a nursing home on doctor’s orders – this happens a lot, especially after a trauma like a fall or heart attack.
There are, in fact, 3 main reasons you may have to place your loved one into a home.
Your loved one needs extra help
- If the loved one in question has seen a significant increase lately in their deterioration, due to illness or fall.
- If they have shown a significant deterioration due to their mental health, for example, due to dementia, that is having a negative impact on their safety.
- If they have experienced a serious loss, like that of a partner.
- If they are showing serious signs of loneliness or depression.
Your loved one needs help with their personal care
If your family member needs help with their day to day life but does not require medical aid, you might choose a care home as opposed to a nursing home. Signs they might do well in moving to a care home include:
- Problems getting up in the morning or going to bed to sleep.
- Needing help going to the toilet or eating meals.
- Needing help doing daily tasks like cooking or shopping.
Your loved one needs nursing attention
For those who need the highest level of medical attention and are unlikely to reach a point where they can leave their home, a nursing home with a high level of medical ability will be the best choice.
Long-term nursing care like this comes in the form of sheltered housing and care services.
If your loved one falls into any of the above categories, you can feel confident that you are making the right choice for everyone involved. Not only are these homes better equipped to deal with your loved one’s needs, but it also relieves you of the strains and stress of helping you’re loved on yourself.
