A proposed bill in the state of Illinois places a greater emphasis on natural family support systems in the world of senior care than what’s typically seen. The bill states that care facilities would need to recognize “essential caregivers” and grant them visiting access within the care home to the people they are connected with, regardless of health and quarantine regulations that might be in place.
This comes as a direct result of policies that nursing homes and assisted living facilities implemented around the country, prohibiting visitors, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health toll that this took on both those receiving care and their family members was, by many accounts, immeasurably more harmful than the virus itself was. While the loss of life that we saw during the pandemic was certainly a tragedy, the loss of life that resulted from mental health crises does not get the same attention. Many states saw the suicide rate drastically increase during the pandemic. While social isolation was deemed necessary because of the spread of the virus, it would be foolish for anyone to overlook the mental health toll that was taken from our communities.
This new bill hopes to help address this issue in a small–but very meaningful way–in the senior care industry. Hopefully, it is passed and enacted in a way that helps seniors to live a healthier and happier life.
For purposes of this bill, an ”essential caregiver” is an appointed individual that provides a level of care to someone. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a professional caregiver, but can be a family member or a trusted friend that has provided a level of assistance prior to entering institutionalized care.
Policies can go a long way toward creating a stronger care infrastructure, but at the end of the day, what’s important is that you and your family have the support system that’s needed to keep your loved ones safe and healthy.
There’s research out there that indicates that the most important thing when it comes to a high quality long life is the quality of relationships that are maintained throughout your life. This study was done by Harvard University and looked at a period of almost 80 years throughout people’s lives. According to this research, loving relationships with family and friends was more important than money, fame, status, fitness, or any other factor that was measured. The relationships that are built and maintained throughout our lives really do make a difference when it comes to the quality of life that is experienced in our senior years.
We have always strived to help seniors maintain the important relationships that have gotten them through their lives until care is needed. Those basic needs don’t disappear just because someone has gotten older. Having a care team that accommodates this is important.
And that’s why we are such strong proponents of senior care. It has always placed those relationships and lifestyles at the forefront. Care is important, but so are all of those other things, too.
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