Aging is part and parcel of life and is unavoidable. When your parents are in their advanced years, chances are that they might no longer be able to live independently without putting themselves in danger. When that happens, serious decisions regarding their care have to be made.
However, considering the many options available, it can be hard to determine just exactly what kind of care your aged parents require. You might even be unfamiliar with some of the terms you come across. One of the biggest dilemmas often faced by the adult children of elderly parents is whether to send their loved ones to a senior living community. The stigma of doing so can be off-putting, leading many children to assume the role of a caregiver only to find out that they are unable to perform this role to the best of their abilities due to other responsibilities like a full-time job and having their children to take care of.
Do you find the aforementioned situation familiar to you? If so, there are two senior care options that you should consider – assisted living and respite care. Read on to find out more about the differences between them.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is the ideal option for your loved ones who want to retain as much independence as they can while needing assistance with certain daily activities such as laundry and housekeeping. Most senior living communities will conduct a thorough assessment of your loved one prior to them moving in to decide the level of care they require. The best-assisted living communities like Rittenhouse Village At Northside have a whole suite of amenities and services designed to maintain, as well as improve the emotional and physical health of their residents. These include daily recreational and social activities, as well as the provision of delicious, nutritious meals. Assisted living differs from respite care in the sense that it is more often than not a permanent arrangement, rather than a temporary one.
Respite Care
Meanwhile, respite care is often a short-term arrangement. Most often, those who opt for respite care are the family caregivers of aged parents who need a short respite from their caregiving duties to attend to their own personal affairs or go on a short vacation. Respite care is also sought when a patient is recovering from a surgery or other medical procedure which requires close follow-up and monitoring by professional and trained medical staff.
At Rittenhouse Village At Northside, residents enrolled in our respite care program are not disadvantaged in any way, having access to all the amenities and services which are available to our assisted living residents. If you are a family caregiver and are not prepared to send your elderly parents to an assisted living community, you should consider taking advantage of our respite care services. While you might feel a sense of guilt about taking time off from caring for your loved one, remember, all human beings need a rest to recharge themselves. By doing so, you will only become a better caregiver.
