Westbrooke Manor-New Member to www.SeniorFacilityFinder.com!

By Bob Gregory,

This week www.SeniorFacilityFinder.com welcomed new member Westbrooke Manor Assisted Living and Memory Support facility located in Zephyrhills, Florida.  Below is information Westbrooke Manor provide for all our readers to consider:

Our People:  

Everyone at Westbrooke is treated like family. We understand the needs and concerns that come with aging; our trained caring staff will make you feel at home from the very moment you step in the front door.

We realize each resident is unique; we take time to know you and find out what your hobbies and interests are. We are constantly improving our activities, events and outings to enrich everyone's individual needs.

Westbrooke offers:

Visit Westbrooke Manor's website!

Assisted Living:

New member SeniorFacilityFinder.com 

Many individuals require just a minimum amount of assistance, while others may need a little more. Westbrooke Manor offers varying levels of assistance so each individual can maintain a certain level of independence. Each resident is assessed to determine the exact level of care needed.

Adult Day Care & Respite: 

A day, a week or maybe longer, Westbrooke offers day care and short term stays to assist busy families with their care giving needs. Many people prefer not to be home alone; we offer the perfect alternative, a safe caring environment where every individual is embraced and made part of our family. We also assist those who need recovery after a small surgery, short illness, or temporary placement.

All levels of care include:

• A welcoming environment encouraging interaction with friends and family
• Compassionate, caring staff offering excellent customer service
• A Licensed Nurse available 24 hours a day
• 3 meals daily by our chef, including candlelight dinners and snacks
• Medication Management
• Extensive scheduled Activities & Events
• Transportation services to scheduled medical appointments
• Housekeeping & Linen service
• Assistance with Bathing, Dressing and Grooming
• Utilities, basic cable, telephone and WiFi

If you find you need an Assisted Living Facility, Nursing Home or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com

I know a nursing home is the best move for my elderly parent, so why do I feel so guilty?

Nursing Home (Photo credit: LOLren)

For most people faced with placing a parent in a nursing home, the guilt does not originate from the decision; instead, it is over the inability to personally care for the parent in their own home.  There are many excellent reasons to choose a nursing home over trying to provide in-home care, but they never seem to negate the guilt!  As children, we depended on our parents to provide care, nurturing and support until we were able t

o make it on our own so naturally we expect to return the favor when our parents need us to provide care, nurturing and support.  Do not let yourself be trapped into drawing a parallel between caring for an infant and caring for an elderly parent—they are not the same and the skills needed are usually night and day!

There are a few things you should definitely do before your parent reaches the stage of life where they may need a nursing home facility:

v  Never promise your parent(s) that you will NEVER place them in a nursing home!  At some point you will be asked by your parent(s) to make that promise!  It is a fear we all have of being placed in a nursing home away from family.

v  Have open and honest discussions with your parent(s) about the prospect of one day having to make the decision to choose a nursing home as their best care alternative.  It will not be easy, but there are some very good reasons why you should choose a nursing home and why it is the best choice for them.

v  Help your parent(s) prepare in advance for the potential of needing a nursing home.  Seek financial advice from a financial practitioner skilled in these matters, consider long-term care insurance, have your parent see their doctor for regular checkups and involve appropriate medical advisors.

v  Do your research on alternatives that may delay the move to a nursing home such as in-home care, adult day care or assisted living facilities as transitional moves.

These will help but they are not going to stop feelings of guilt!  If your parent needs a nursing home, then make the right choice, but know it will not be easy.  Your parent will most likely ask to stay with you or a sibling and the request may quickly turn to begging.  At this point, reasoning with your parent will be difficult and will produce very little progress in helping with the decision.

Here are some common considerations that may help with the guilt:

v  Choose a quality nursing home facility with excellent health care.

Crestview Court Nurse Station (Photo credit: cantexsc)

v  Find a facility that is near family so visitations can be frequent.

v  Involve other members of the family as a support group and schedule visits

v  Create “Plan B”.  We hope we make the right decision but be prepared to move if necessary

v  Get to know the staff at the facility and participate in events as often as possible

v  Get involved with a support group that can help you cope and give advice

v  Make sure your parent has the opportunity to get closure on their former life by being involved in the decisions regarding disposition of possessions

Guilt is usually caused by doing something we believe is wrong or failing to do something we believe is right.  Be sure to involve healthcare professionals to help assure you are making the right decision and be confident in your decisions and choices.  If you have family, then do not go it alone—involve others in your decisions.  Sometimes people less emotionally attached can provide unbiased advice so don’t overlook the input of friends.  If you prepare properly you will minimize the guilty feelings and quickly overcome them!  If you would like to obtain a list of nursing homes in your area that meet your needs, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com .

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of  www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If you find you need a Nursing Home or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.

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Will Adult Day Care be a good alternative to a Nursing Home and is it right for your situation?

By Bob Gregory

Are you the adult child or spouse of a physically or cognitively disabled adult family member?  Are you struggling with providing in-home care while trying to maintain your own household and job?  Don’t despair, there are alternatives to Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Facilities that will allow you to provide the care your loved one needs and you desire to give.

Consider an Adult Day Care center as an alternative!

What is an Adult Day Care Center?  An Adult Day Care Center is a planned program for frail, physically or cognitively disabled seniors who need a safe, supervised environment during the day.  They are intended for older adults who need help managing daily activities or are isolated.

Special Attributes of an Adult Day Care Center:

• Open Monday through Friday during the day

  

  Full Service (Photo credit: acidpix)

• Some provide transportation to and from the facility
• Provide a safe and cheerful environment
• Provide socializing and activities to stimulate mental health
• Nutritious meals and special diet services
• Nursing staff to administer medication
• Low cost way of keeping a family member at home

Adult Day Care centers can be public or private, non-profit or for profit.  They are regulated by the state and each state has different regulations.  The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) does provide some overall guidelines, so there are commonalities in the regulations.  Check with your state for specific guidelines.

Brockton Adult Day Care Center (Photo credit: Timothy Valentine)

In addition to giving your loved-one a safe place to socialize and receive care during the day, it will also provide the caregiver a needed respite and reduce the need for nursing home care.  Care giving can be both financially and physically exhausting and a break from the caregiver’s role can do wonders for both of you.

If you need a break or your loved one is isolated while you are at work, please consider the advantages of an Adult Day Care center. If you have any other ideas or comments, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of  www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If you find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.

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When is a Skilled Nursing Home necessary and what type of care do they provide?

By Bob Gregory

Are you over 40 and your parents aren't doing as well as they use too? Are your parents disabled or handicapped or are having real problems coping with some unforeseen accident or issue? If you have an aging parent or loved one who meets one or more of the criteria you should consider placing him/her in a Skilled Nursing Home:

o   Has a medical condition that requires a Registered Nurse on a daily basis.

o   Cannot take care of personal needs, such as bathing, toileting, taking medication as prescribed, eating or ambulation.

o   Has emotional, physical or mental issues that prevent him/her from caring for themselves.

o   Must have supervision to keep from wandering away.

o   Can no longer live alone.

o   Requires temporary care or rehabilitation before returning home after a hospital stay.

NOVATO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Registered nurse JoAnn Brand (L) examines Sham Tavakoli at the Lifelong Medical Marin Adult Day Health Care Center on February 10, 2011 in Novato, California. LifeLong Medical Care in Novato is a state-licensed center that provides adult day health care and activities to nearly 60 Marin County seniors and would be forced to close if California Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget cuts were to be approved by the state legislature in order to make up for California's $28 billion deficit. The deep cuts to Medi-Cal would jeopardize up to 300 adult day care centers throughout California and displace nearly 37,000 people that depend on the service. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

A physician should perform a complete assessment to determine the mental and physical status of the patient. The assessment should include balance tests, memory tests and other tests deemed necessary to determine if the patient can take care of themselves (eating, dressing and standing from 

a sitting position without assistance) on a daily basis.

A Skilled Nursing Home provides personal care and rehabilitation services 24 hours a day. Resi

dents usually have a semi-private room and assist with their daily personal needs. Medications are dispensed

 by nurses and an individual’s overall health is monitored. There is usually a Physician on staff or an individual can visit their own Physician. Meals are usually served in a community dining room and activities are planned for the residents on a daily basis.

If your aging parent or loved one meets any of the criteria listed above or has been assessed by a physician and can no longer function without daily assistance a Skilled Nursing Home may be required.

We hope you find our checklist useful. If you have any other ideas or comments, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of  www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If you find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.

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Are you ready for Assisted Living?

Christiana Care Kicks off Participation in Home Care Program (Photo credit: Christiana Care)

By Bob Gregory

Most of us want to be independent and it begins in early childhood and continues to the day we leave this world.  Asking for help is hard for a lot of people but knowing when to ask for help is even harder.  Assessing whether you need to live where someone can assist you with normal activities is key to  a continued healthy and safe life in your senior years.  There are a few simple questions that you should ask yourself and answer very honestly

Ask Yourself these Questions--Answer Honestly!

1)  Has transportation become a problem for you?  Are you having trouble driving or are you afraid to drive? If you take public transportation, has it become difficult to keep the schedules and take correct routes?  Lack of transportation can quicklycause you to become a shut-in and miss the pleasures of shopping, visiting friends and making important appointments.

  

2) Are you having difficulty maintaining your home?  If you find your bills are not getting paid, repairs are not being made or cleaning has become more of a monumental task than a chore, then you may want to consider alternative living arrangements.  This is especially true if you find yourself seeking help for simple household chores or if you simply don’t want to do them anymore.

3) Do you feel alone or unsafe?  If your mobility has decreased, whether driving or walking, you can easily become isolated from friends and family.  Living alone always raises safety issues. Safety does not necessarily mean from crime, it also encompasses falling, injuries or becoming ill with no one to help or check on you.

4) Finally, do you depend on others frequently for help?  If you find you are always asking for help with transportation, household chores or more personal items, it may be time to seek a place where you are not dependent on the help of family and friends.

There are many other signs and questions you should ask yourself, but these four questions tend to indicate a need for an Assisted Living Facility.  You should discuss the answers to these questions with your family and certainly with your physician.  There are other alternatives to Assisted Living Facilities such as Adult Day Care and In-Home Care.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of  www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.

As always, we welcome your comments and advice!

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