Aging in America: Long-term Care Options

There is a certain anxiety that many people face when they consider the future. They worry about what they will do when they reach retirement or who will care for them if they can no longer care for themselves. With more people aging in America, a retiree may live well into their eighties, nineties, or beyond.

For successful aging in America, we should plan for long-term care even if we do not think we might need it. We can remove some of the anxiety and fear by having a written plan for long-term care in case of an emergency.

For example, you may plan to live in your own home after retirement. However, twenty years after retirement, circumstances may require you to seek long-term care, possibly in an assisted living facility where you can age in place with healthcare available as you need it.

Knowing the options available to you can make it easier to plan for the future.

Types of long-term care

Long-term care may be required if you struggle with activities for daily living (ADLs), such as housekeeping, preparing meals, personal hygiene and grooming, and laundry. These can range from someone checking in on you at home a couple of times per week or you live at a facility with full-time care.

Unpaid family and friends.

The most common option is relying on family and friends for help. These are unpaid caregivers who may stop in weekly to help clean and do laundry. This option also includes family members who live with you and help with ADLs like bathing, toileting, and cooking. Many family members fill this role for aging parents and spouses.

In some states, a family member or friend can become certified as a home health aide and receive compensation to make aging in America a smoother transition and offset some of the expenses as many of these family members may find it difficult to balance caring for someone and working outside of the home. Insurance may also cover paid home health aides from local agencies who can grocery shop and fill the role of companion at doctor’s appointments.

Adult daycare.

Adult daycare is an option for those family members that work outside of the home or for seniors who wish to socialize and participate in programs. Many of these centers offer transportation. As with traditional daycare centers, the hours of operation vary but are typically open Monday through Friday from early morning until evening.

Participants are offered breakfast and lunch and can engage in programs, games, and special events. Often these centers have healthcare workers on hand to help with daily activities or emergencies.

Assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

An assisted living facility provides you with independent living. Each resident’s “home” is often an apartment with a kitchen and bathroom. However, as the resident ages and requires more help with ADLs, a healthcare team is on site. Most facilities also offer a dining room, exercise room, and programs to keep seniors socially active and physically fit.

Nursing homes mirror hospitals in care. Residents may have their room or share with another resident. The medical staff are more hands-on and can help when the resident can no longer care for themselves. This full-time care puts loved ones’ minds at ease, especially when someone has a degenerative condition.

Aging in America and aging in place 

You may find that more facilities offer aging in place as an option. For example, you may find an assisted living facility where you can live independently for a few decades. But the assisted living facility also offers home health aides if you find you are having issues with your activities of daily living.

Many of these facilities also offer memory care, a section specifically for residents with memory problems, dementia, or Alzheimer’s Disease, where the residents are supervised in a safe environment and work with professionals on their cognitive decline.

We are blessed to have so many options available to us to make aging in America a healthier and more vibrant season in our lives. We can remain socially active, strengthen our physical bodies, and boost cognitive health by engaging in programs and relationships.

If you are searching for options for long-term care or struggle with whether long-term care is right for yourself or a loved one, reach out to our office today to schedule a session with a licensed counselor at Allen Christian Counseling in Texas. Planning and preparation can relieve some of the anxiety and fear about the future. Let us help you gain clarity on a few options just in case you would need them in the future.