Assessment

Sara Karsten

3/8/22, 11:19 AM

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1. Living in own home:

2. Pros: Berk (2017) states that the individual has the atmosphere of intimacy and loving care in which the ill person is unlikely to feel abandoned or humiliated by physical decline. The elderly’s loved ones get to spend more time together.

3. Cons: Demands of caretakers are higher. Requires a skilled professional to assist with activities of daily living. Most homes are poorly equipped to handle the medical and comfort-care needs of the elderly.

4. Living with their children:

5. Pros: Costs are lower than the elderly living in their own home. Family gets to spend more time with their elderly. If the elderly is physically/mentally capable, they may offer childcare support.

6. Cons: Berk (2017) states that the home will need to be modified to account for hazards, such as dimly lit areas, grab bars and non-slip rugs, and ramps. The main caregiver may become stressed and can suffer from the physical and mental toll of being the caregiver.

7. Assisted living facility:

8. Pros: Elderly receives help with everyday living activities, their rooms can be decorated to make them feel at home, offers plenty of socialization with peers of the same age, offers plenty of scheduled activities to keep residents entertained, less expensive than nursing home.

9. Cons: Reluctance to leave their family home, may not want to abide by facilities policies, may have to share a room, extensive medical care is not available like it would be at a nursing home, monthly costs can be in the thousands and are generally not paid for by Medicaid programs, visitation hours may be limited.

10. Nursing home with intermediate care:

11. Pros: Support under medical direction is provided 24 hours a day, the goal is to enable patients to return home and regain the functions of daily living, provide for greater independence, which increases their quality of life,

12. Cons: More expensive than living at home or with family, since meals are prepared for the residents, elderly have no control over what is offered, ICF’s typically have a larger staff and have higher staff turnover rates, caregiver may be a different person, scheduled visiting hours means less time to socialize with family.

13. Nursing home with skilled nursing care:

14. Pros: a SNF is a short-term rehabilitation center so access to physical or occupational therapy is more readily available, staff is available 24 hours a day, two-person assists are available if needed, a good facility will coordinate medical services, may have access to facilities such as a gym, socialization opportunities.

15. Cons: Medicare programs may only cover a certain amount of days and there may be a copay, visiting hours may limit family socialization, if the elderly has memory loss, the rehabilitation efforts may be difficult.

16. Make recommendations for healthy and disabled elderly:

For a healthy elderly person, I would recommend living at home to maintain their level of comfort. For a disabled elderly person, I would recommend living in an assisted living facility.

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