When it comes to an elderly care facility, there are different options, such as a skilled nursing facility, memory care, an assisted living facility, etc. Now, the important question is what to do when an elderly person refuses to go to a care facility.
This guide will help.
Prioritize their Safety
So, what to do when your elderly loved one refuses to go to a nursing home that is suitable for their situation? It is incredibly important to give your elderly loved ones the following:
- Independence
- Autonomy
- Freedom in the community
On that note, certain circumstances can arise to the level where interested loved ones might need to step in and place their aging loved ones to move to a safer living place. This aspect is more important when the aging loved one suffers from dementia, and they are prone to wander off their house.
Assess the Level of Dementia
There are different levels of dementia or cognitive impairment. For instance, if your elderly loved one has been formally diagnosed with some level of dementia, which typically comes in three levels:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
As a caregiver, you have to look at things in their totality. If your loved one has mild dementia and they live at home independently, they might occasionally get forgetful. They might need some basic assistance with their daily activities, such as help with getting out of bed in the morning. They might need help moving around and transferring themselves from the bed to a wheelchair.
They might need assistance with bathing, showering, and dressing. They might also need help with using the restroom or eating.
As people get older, they usually need assistance with one or more daily life activities.
Assess the Level of Care They Need
If a loved one has been diagnosed with mild dementia – they might be able to live independently on their own. The only thing you might need to focus on is ensuring daily check-ins or arranging for some home assistance.
However, if the level of cognitive impairment or dementia rises to the level of moderate dementia, this is the point when you really need to scrutinize the safety of your loved ones. Assess the vulnerability level of your loved one in the community.
They might be wandering, which can put their life and health at serious risk if they live in a high-traffic area or in an area where it is incredibly hot or cold.
Look out For Signs of Worsening Dementia
Your loved one might not be able to manage their own medication if their dementia gets worse. Look out for signs that can indicate that the condition of your elderly loved one is getting worse. For instance, they might start hoarding things, or they might wander through the community and not know where they are going.
They might walk out in bad weather conditions, unprotected. You will have to assess with the help of a healthcare provider regarding their condition and stage of dementia to determine what potential risks they impose on their safety.
They might as well be putting themselves in danger of strangers who might be compromising their finances. Often, people with dementia are taken advantage of by spammers who try to get the financial information of elderly people to drain their accounts.
Take Care of Legal Aspects
At this point, you also need to appoint a durable power of attorney so that a trustworthy person can act on behalf of the elderly loved ones in case their condition gets worse. So, if your loved one has started to show signs of diminished capacity, it is incredibly important that while they still have some form of lucidity, they have a disability plan to act upon.
Keep your elderly loved one in the loop at the time of deciding on the nursing home facility that you want them to be taken care of. Talk to the doctors and other family members when taking these important steps. Remember – the end goal is the safety of your loved one. So, you have to ensure that any decision that you make is in the best interest of your loved one.
How to Choose the Right Nursing Home
Now, you might have the legal authority to have your loved one moved to a nursing home; however, you should be careful when selecting the nursing home for your loved one. You might have heard of nursing home neglect and abuse cases, which is why you might feel scared about it.
But – we recommend you keep an open mind while visiting the nursing homes before choosing one. Also, if you detect abuse after you place your loved one in the care of a nursing home, such as bedsores and other signs of neglect, get in touch with a nursing home abuse lawyer so that you can get the rightful compensation.
Trusting your gut feelings and common sense is incredibly important when it comes to detecting nursing home abuse, especially when your loved one has dementia and trouble recalling things.
Assess the Needs of Your Loved One
At the time of choosing a nursing home, you should keep in mind the needs and wants of your elderly loved one. There are several options to choose from depending on the level of care needed, such as hospice care, nursing home, or assisted living.
If you are unsure about the needs and what is best for your loved one, you should talk to the healthcare provider about the best services. On that note, you should also ask your loved one about what matters to them, such as their meals, social connections, religious activities, etc.
Visit Different Nursing Facilities
At the time of choosing a nursing home or living facility for your loved one who has dementia, don’t just settle on the first option that comes your way. You should talk to family and friends who have had the experience of placing their loved ones in a nursing home to make a list of options.
Also, call different facilities and visit them to see what the living experience would be. Ask questions about whether they cater to the special needs and preferences of your aging loved one. Not only do they visit the facility, but they also meet with the key staff members and the director.
