Long Term Care - Services Outside the Home
Services Outside the Home
Not all care needs can or should be met in the home. A family caregiver needs some time away for personal needs. Time to go to work. Time to run errands and do chores. Time to rest and relax. People receiving care also benefit from a change of scenery and routine.
Adult Day Care programs offer supervision, help with personal care, health services and social activities usually at a local center.
Respite Care provides a substitute caregiver to temporarily relieve the regular caregiver. The substitute may be a trained volunteer or a professional caregiver. Respite services are usually offered in your home for brief periods at a time. In some cases, the care may occur away from home in a special hospice, an Alzheimer's care center, or any type of long term care facility.
Congregate Meals are hot meals with activities provided at a central location in a community. Transportation to and from the nutrition or senior centers may or may not be available.
Transportation Services are rides, mainly to medical appointments and possibly a few other essential destinations, such as grocery stores. Many communities offer free or low-cost public transportation to frail or disabled people.
In-home services are gaining in popularity and availability. Quality of life is enhanced and costs are often reduced with these services. Using one or more of them may be the right solution for you and your family. But before you make a decision, you're wise to become knowledgeable about other options, too.
