Colorado Retirement Communities Talks on Care Assessment
Thinking about housing arrangements for the future can be a stressful, anxiety-provoking topic for both you and your family. However, it doesn’t have to be. While it may feel easier to put off thinking about it until later, the earlier you face your specific issues, the more choices and control you will have over your future living arrangements. As well as assessing your current needs, it’s also important to take into account how your needs may evolve over time as your medical, emotional, social, and financial needs change. Learn about the different types of senior housing, what choices may be best for you, and how to navigate the emotional roadblocks that come with choosing senior housing. When you face a number of ailments, medical care can become complex says Colorado Retirement Communities. A drug prescription may help one symptom, but create a new one in its stead. You may be tired of seeing doctors and not want to mention seemingly small but bothersome things, such as feeling tired or forgetful. If you or a loved one is experiencing increased frailty, memory loss, depression, or any perplexing or debilitating symptoms, a thorough assessment can prove invaluable. This is an important first step in determining a plan of action for receiving appropriate diagnosis and care. There are two levels of assessment. The first, service specific assessment, addresses the need for a particular type of service, for example nursing, in home care, social work or memory care.
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Comprehensive Assessment
If a person faces a number of challenges surrounding their care and has a complicated medical history, ongoing medical problems or undiagnosed symptoms, a more thorough and multidisciplinary assessment may be necessary. A comprehensive assessment is multi-dimensional. It evaluates the complete person, considering medical, psychological, and social needs and interests. This type of assessment often takes place in the client’s home or place of residence as it provides a more comfortable and natural setting for testing. Generally, a doctor or family member will request a multidisciplinary assessment if they have concerns regarding as individual’s care explains Colorado Retirement Communities. There is a broad array of housing options available to seniors, from staying in your own home to specialized facilities that provide round-the-clock nursing care. The names of the different types of housing options can sometimes be confusing, as the terminology can vary from region to region. The main difference will be in the amount of care provided for activities of daily living and for medical care. When researching a housing option, make sure it covers your required level of care and that you understand exactly the facilities offered and the costs involved.
Colorado Retirement Communities Talks on Care Assessment
Specialized Assessment
The assessment should lead toward a recommended plan of care or service. A service-specific assessment is the most common type of evaluation. Before providing appropriate advice, referrals, or recommendations for care, it is important to evaluate and understand your specific concerns and needs. For home care or other senior services, it is common to receive an assessment from a social worker, care manager, or intake professional. Specialized assessments may be conducted by a Geriatric Care Manager, a social worker with a master’s degree in social work specializing in the needs of older adults. A licensed psychologist, a licensed social worker, or a marriage and family therapist should be sought for advice or assessment regarding a mental health concern. This type of assessment is routinely conducted in either an office or the client’s home. A psychologist or neuropsychologist should be sought when an assessment is required to evaluate memory loss or other changes in cognitive functioning. In some, you may need to share a room unless you’re willing to pay a higher cost says Colorado Retirement Communities. Most facilities have a group dining area and common areas for social and recreational activities. In general, assisted living is a housing option for those who need help with some activities of daily living, including minor help with medications. Costs tend to vary according to the level of daily help required, although staff is available twenty-four hours a day. Some assisted living facilities provide apartment-style living with scaled-down kitchens, while others provide rooms.
Future Plans
Aging is a time of adaptation and change, and planning for the future will make sure your needs, or the needs of a loved one, are fully met. Continuing to thrive as you age means learning how to maintain your independence for as long as possible. About 70 percent of individuals over the age of 65 will require some type of long-term care services during their lifetime. As you age, your social networks may change. Friends or family may not be as close by, or neighbors may move or pass on. You want to make sure that you have continuing opportunities for maintaining and building new social networks says Colorado Retirement Communities. If you become isolated and housebound, it can have an adverse effect on your mental health. This may mean modifying your own home, or it could mean moving to a housing facility with more support options on site. As you age, you may need some help with physical needs, including activities of daily living. This could range from shopping, cleaning, and cooking to intensive help with bathing, toileting, moving around, and eating. You or a loved one may also need increasing help with medical needs. These could arise from a sudden condition, such as a heart attack or stroke, or a more gradual condition that slowly needs more and more care.
