Nursing Home Alternatives

You don't have to put your parents in a nursing home.

As nursing home care grows more expensive, a number of alternative living arrangements for seniors have begun to develop.

One such alternative is a so-called "assisted living" facility. In these facilities, the residents have their own fully equipped apartments, as well as a group dining facility where they can take some of their meals with other residents. These facilities usually have some kinds of organized activities designed to ensure that residents get out for shopping trips, concerts, and other cultural events. They provide assistance for older persons who may need help with dressing and bathing, and they usually have professional nursing staff or emergency medical personnel on duty around the clock. The cost of living in one of these facilities averages about two-thirds of what nursing home care costs, and gives the resident a greater sense of privacy, freedom, and autonomy than nursing home residents have.

Even less expensive are senior communities, sometimes referred to as congregate living facilities. These have many of the features of an assisted living facility, but are designed for older persons who are in good health and have less need of medical assistance. As a result, a congregate living facility may not have trained personnel on duty on a 24-hour a day basis.

Unlike nursing homes, these facilities are generally less regulated by government agencies, so you'll need to take extra care if your elderly parent is considering living in one of these communities. Be sure to visit the facility at least several times at varying times of the day, and ask if you may have a meal in the group dining facility. Observe the interaction between residents and staff members, and don't be afraid to ask questions of those already living there. Listen closely to their answers; enthusiastic responses about the quality of the facility are generally a good sign.