Reasons Why Elders Are Put In Nursing Homes

It was just the other day that I was with a friend of mine who was felt guilty of putting her father in a nursing home; I empathize with children who with the best of intentions are sometimes forced to put their aged parents in nursing homes.

Sometimes adult children may find the job of care-giving to be overwhelming and may want to ensure that their elderly parents are comfortable and well cared for; nursing homes are the best options for providing quality health care and gaining a support team for your family.

Some of the reasons elders are put in nursing homes:

Better health care needs: Sometimes the health care needs of elders that initially seem manageable may turn into serious conditions; this is true of issues like dementia, incontinence and restricted mobility that could pose major health risks to an elderly person. It would be difficult for a caregiver to manage the demands of managing medications, keeping track of doctors' appointments, coping with changes in behavior, and lifting and moving a parent. It is in such cases best to put elders in nursing home where they receive around-the-clock assistance, along with a professional staff with knowledge about a variety of medical conditions.

Steep financial costs: This is also one of the most important reasons why an elder would be shifted to a nursing home. Various financial provisions such as Medicaid and long-term health insurance would not always fully cover the medical expenses, especially if your parent's condition worsens. In addition to professional caregivers, it is essential for the family to consider factors like home upgrades, mortgages and taxes when calculating the long-term costs of supporting an elderly relative.  So it would greatly help to find a quality nursing home or assisted-living facility that may be more affordable in the long run.

Personal obligations: The pressure of family, home and work could leave one with very less time to care for elders as the role of a primary caregiver could cause stress, places strain on family relationships, interrupts your involvement in other activities and alter sleep patterns. It is still more emotionally draining when you have a tense relationship with your parent or when he/she experiences mood swings. A nursing home could be considered in such cases where you can remain actively involved in making decisions about your parent's future.

Personal limitations: Caring for an elder who is especially sick could make a great demand on ones time and energy. This is especially physically damaging when you are already coping up with your own medical complications. It could be difficult to cope up with the ongoing medical expenses of both you and the elder with a limited income. This would make shift to the nursing home necessary. 

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