Alternatives to Home Care

Choices can be difficult for people with physical limitations. For elderly and disabled people unable to function independently, home care sounds attractive. However, it doesn't always result in the best quality of care, or it may be difficult for their families. Additionally, home care can be very costly. Luckily, there are alternatives. Patients and families need to review them carefully and choose only good-quality service providers capable of addressing patients' needs.

Skilled Nursing Facilities

• Skilled nursing facilities -- known previously as nursing homes -- provide short-term sub-acute and long-term care. Sub-acute patients -- sometimes known as transitional patients -- are medically stable, but not able to return home to independent life after a hospital stay. Their injuries require additional healing time and in many cases rehabilitation therapy. Long-term patients are those unable to care for themselves whose advanced age or degenerative conditions make it so they need the help of nurses and certified nursing assistants. In many cases, Medicare will help with long-term care costs for patients who choose a nursing facility. SNFs can give medication and provide basic nursing services, but if patients' medical conditions become acute, they send their patients to hospitals.

Assisted Living Facilities

• When seniors no longer feel safe living independently but are not debilitated or experiencing advanced medical problems, assisted living facilities are an option. ALFs provide seniors their own rooms or small apartments, but have staff on-hand to help them with daily activities that may be challenging for them, such as tying their shoes or watering their plants. They also have nurses and clinical staff on site for at least a portion of the day to check on or assist ailing residents. Additionally, most ALFs feature dining rooms where residents can get meals as well as community centers and recreational activities.

Adult Day Care

• When family members have to go to work and school during the day but can't afford full-time home care, adult day care programs can be useful. Some adult day care programs are for seniors, while others work with the physically and mentally handicapped. In all cases, caretakers and activity coordinators ensure participants are safe, receive meals and engage in social activity to the largest degree possible for each patient. Some adult daycare facilities also have buses and provide pickup services.

Group Homes

• For people who want the feel of home, a group home can be a nice alternative to home care and skilled nursing facilities. Group homes are actual houses renovated to meet state standards for elder and disabled care. They do not have nursing staffs and medical services the way SNFs and ALFs do, but they have caretakers on hand to care for residents. Legitimate group homes are licensed with their state departments of health and must meet safety standards.