Wednesday 5 March 2014

The Board & Care Option For Seniors

By Kristana Jenson


When searching for eldercare, you will find that there are plenty of options available, but they aren't all exactly what you need or what you can manage financially. For example, assisted living homes have a lot to offer in terms of social activities, comfort and amenities, but they come with a high price tag. A nursing home might be affordable but can be institutional and sparse. A board and care home is another option to consider, one that can be fairly budget friendly but have more ambiance and hominess than a nursing home.

These board & care facilities are generally located in a private home and can accommodate perhaps five to seven adults at most. They also are called adult group homes or sometimes residential care homes. They typically are less expensive than an assisted living facility but still include many of the same amenities, such as daily help with grooming, bathing and dressing as well as full meal service, housekeeping and perhaps laundry services. In addition, there is always a caregiver on site to help the residents at any time night or day.

Currently, there are more than 52,000 board and care homes in the United States serving about 1.2 million adults. In California, these homes are regulated by the California Department of Social Services and must be licensed. They also are subject to inspections but only once every five years. While there are many excellent residential care homes, it is important to note that elder abuse is a common problem not just in board & care homes, but with any type of eldercare. There are ways to ensure that your parent or loved one is receiving the highest standard of care.

A big first step toward avoiding problems with eldercare would be to carefully inspect the potential homes. Many eldercare advocacy groups on the internet have printable checklists that you can print and bring with you. Take careful notes about all of the safety features that are in place. Talk to the residents and get a sense about how they feel about their home and watch how staff and residents interact with each other. Make note of how clean and comfortable the place appears, as well as the front and back yards.

The worst mistake you can make is simply not asking questions. You have a right to know how the home works. You have a right to know and how medications and medical emergencies are handled. You also should ask about food and amenities and social activities as well as the protocol for visiting. If the staff or management seems impatient about answering your questions, then find another facility.

If you want to search for a suitable board and care option, consider contacting the staff at CarePlacement.com or another similar service. They have screened a wide variety of homes throughout the San Diego area and can provide you with a list of homes or facilities that suits your budget and needs. In addition to helping find board and care, they also can help you find a nursing home, in-home care or perhaps an assisted living apartment.




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