It is no surprise that as they get older and physically less able, people start to think about how they will cope should they fall ill or become less able to look after themselves. But what are the things to consider when thinking about long term care options?

When considering their options people generally express a strong preference to stay in their own home. It is human nature to want to stay in an environment which is familiar, contains many memories and is a long standing “home”. Apart from these things it is also possible that there will be a range of friends and familiar faces in the locality who they want to stay conveniently close to.

There are a number of “signs” that typically indicate that somebody might be coming close to the time when it is sensible to consider their options in terms of whether they need some additional help in the home or garden, whether they need additional nursing help or something more dramatic such as a move into residential care. Here are some of them:

1. Has the person had a fall in their home?
2. Are they still able to easily move around the home including going up-stairs?
3. Is the person still driving and, if so, are they generally regarded as driving safely?
4. Is the person still able to manage their garden?
5. Is the individual preparing meals for themselves satisfactorily or do they seem to be losing weight?
6. Is there any evidence of significant memory loss?

If an elderly individual seems to be having difficulty in any of the above areas it is definitely worth someone who is close to them or local social services to take a closer look at how they are getting on in their day to day lives.

As discussed above, there are many reasons why people prefer to stay in their own home but another very important one is the huge difference in cost between someone going into residential care and someone organising things so that they can stay in their own home – even if some level of investment is required to make adaptations to the home or pay for some additional help. The UK Government has been trying for some years to encourage more people to stay in their own home rather than go into residential care and to some extent they have been successful as for the last few years the numbers of people in residential care in the UK have fallen.

Adaptations are adjustments that need to be made to a home in order to allow someone to continue to live independently and they can often make a big difference to someone’s life for relatively modest investment.

If it seems that somebody might be getting to the point of needing adaptations or help in their home then there are a number of areas that are usually worth looking at so that judgements can be made about how adaptations and possible 3rd party help should be prioritised and, if there are going to be costs associated with the required changes, what should be put first.

Adaptations can include a wide range of things like the widening of doors for wheelchair access, installation of equipment such as stair rails or strategically placed grab rails. Other adaptations might be alterations to the building such as wheelchair ramps or extra handles in the toilet or bathroom. Adaptations provided by local authorities which cost less than a fixed amount are currently provided free of charge and equipment is also provided free of charge. The costs of more expensive adaptations can often be part funded by grants which are means tested.

It is also worth someone talking to local voluntary organisations to see if they can help either with equipment of with costs of adaptations. Alarm systems can also be a very reassuring addition for somebody living alone, particularly if not very mobile. There is a wide range of alarm systems available and again it is worth someone contacting their local authority to see if they will help with the costs.

In the UK the first step towards getting help for an elderly person who may need help in the home is for them to contact their local Social Services Department. The local authority social services department is the main state provider of services in the home. If help is required with the cost of the services then the local government body in England is responsible for assessing the need and making these available. (This varies in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.)

Author Bio: Richard Edwards is a founder of www.careguides.co.uk which offers help and advice to people trying to arrange elderly care for themselves or others. Visit www.careguides.co.uk for further information on matters to do with caring.

Category: Family Concerns
Keywords: Care,carehomes,care of the elderly,senior,information for carers,elderly care, long term care,