If you have a family member who is elderly and ill, or struggling to maintain a home on her own, a nursing home is no longer the only option. There are other alternatives available depending on an individual's needs. Statistics reported by the AARP Public Policy Institute show that the number of elderly in nursing homes fell from 1985 to 2004. Alternative types of care, which can be less costly than nursing homes, are helping to improve the quality of life for the elderly.
Community Services
For elderly individuals who are in relatively good health, but who may still need a little assistance in order to continue living at home, community-based services are often the answer. The types of community programs available to the elderly include Meals-on-Wheels and homemaker and companion services. Companions check in on older individuals and provide companionship for a few hours each week. Other programs for the elderly send out individuals to perform light household tasks or run basic errands. Services like these help many elderly individuals to remain living independently in their own homes for longer.
Subsidized Housing
An elderly individual who is struggling to keep up with the financial costs associated with maintaining his own home may qualify for a federal or state housing program. In this case, low-income elderly can get help paying for housing. Some subsidized housing programs also offer elderly tenants services such as errand running and assistance with routine household tasks.
Adult Day Care Programs
There are options available to families who need help caring for an elderly family member during the day. Adult day care programs help care for elderly individuals during the hours when their family caregivers are working. These facilities frequently provide more than respite care. Some adult day care services offer social activities, nutritional counseling and other therapeutic programs. If there are no adult day care facilities in your community, another option is to hire a home health aide to care for an elderly family member during the hours when you cannot be available.
Home Health Services
Home health services help elderly individuals who need additional medical care following hospitalization to remain living in their own homes. Individuals must either have insurance to help cover the costs of these services or other assets, which give them the funds to pay for the services out-of-pocket. Home health services may include nursing care, the services of a home health aide and other medical therapies. Elderly individuals who are terminally ill may qualify for hospice care. This allows the individual to receive palliative care at home rather than in a nursing home.
Assisted Living Communities
Assisted living communities are designed for elderly individuals who need some assistance with the activities of daily living. Residents of assisted living communities are usually in reasonably fair health although they often have some health problems. An assisted living facility offers housing and meals. The personal services provided can vary. Some assisted living communities offer limited nursing services, transportation to and from medical appointments, and other related services. An assisted living facility may operate independently or be part of a larger continuing care community.
Waiver Program
Some elderly individuals qualify for the Waiver Program through the Area Agency on Aging. The Waiver Program, which is funded by Medical Assistance, is for individuals who are at least 60 years of age. The Area on Aging points out that a person must meet the monthly income guidelines and have a Medical Assistance ACCESS card in order to qualify. This program helps people who do not want to go to a nursing home get services like meals delivered to the home, personal care, home modifications and installation of an emergency response system. Other services may be available to help an elderly person to remain living at home.
