Residential Care Homes also known as board and care, adult family homes, or personal care homes offer services designed for smaller groups of older adults. Residential Care Homes are known for their “home-like” feel, and provide room / board and assistance with ADLS (activities of daily living). Unlike nursing homes, residential care homes supply limited if any medical attention and is not meant for those with skilled care needs.
Assisted living facilities are similar to residential care but they generally provide care for larger numbers of elderly folks and in a more institutional-like setting. Assisted living facilities can be large apartment complexes on vast campuses with widespread common areas serving hundreds of older adults. Some assisted living facilities are not as large but still offer extensive services and amenities. Â Residential care in contrast is typically offered on a smaller scale to seniors in traditional homes that have been converted into care facilities. Others are pre-planned custom-built residential care facilities however whether a new or renovated structure they are intended to serve smaller groups of less than 10.
Cost is an important consideration that triggers families to seek residential care homes over more costly assisted living. Residential care cost is based on geographic area wide-ranging from $1500/monthly upward to $5000/monthly in higher cost of living areas. Shared or semiprivate rooms are cheaper than private ones of course and can result in more affordable rates that may help stretch your budget. By and large, residential care is half as costly as nursing homes and as a rule cheaper than many larger assisted living facilities.
Personalized care tailored to your senior loved one can be a huge selling point for residential care. Because care is focused on only a few or handful, the familiarity and bonding with residents is often greater. More attention to detail can also mean that important changes with your loved one’s health do not go unnoticed. At the same time your senior may enjoy the tailored assistance afforded by residential care in cozy surroundings that feel more like “home”.
Good food is universally voiced as essential to residents in long-term care. More home-cooked meals found in residential care homes will likely be favored by your senior rather than institutional food prepared in larger elder facilities. While sacrificing more menu choices offered in bigger facilities, the gain might be better tasting food because cooking large volumes is predictably less flavorful. Most residential care provide daily meals and assistance with eating if needed.
Stable and consistent caregiving is a huge concern to ensure quality eldercare for your loved one. Residential care homes are often owned and operated by nurses or other health professionals who are directly involved in caregiving or oversee the care. The more home-like setting is conducive to staffing with fewer regular caregivers resulting in less turn-over. Compassion and longevity among caregivers are a top priority prompting further exploration of residential care.
Carefully weigh the pros and cons of residential care for your elderly love one. Positive features of residential care homes may include a more intimate setting tending to smaller numbers allowing more personalized attention to residents. Residential care facilities are generally less costly than other elder care options but be mindful with that comes less amenities and services. For example, many large assisted living facilities boast elegant dining areas with multiple menu choices, onsite social and cultural events, day trips, weekly transportation, exercise classes, beauty salons, chapels, computer rooms, and so on.
Residential care homes on the other-hand may have a cozy TV room, simple dining area with daily meals, rocking chairs on the front porch, and as needed escort to doctor appointments. Bear in mind more essentially that both residential care and assisted living facilities furnish assistance with basic activities of daily living to support independent living. There are always pros and cons as with all big decisions however residential care homes deserve some serious consideration as a viable care option for your senior.
