Elder first care is not a new concept, nor is it a difficult concept to implement. But with all of the rules and regulations that caregivers are placed under, the simplicity of elder first care can often be lost. And while all of the rules are technically followed, your mom or dad’s quality of care suffers as a result of this lacking detail.
Elder first care is simply the idea that the needs of each individual receiving care should be treated as an individual, and not be molded into whatever type of care is being administered. This is often done quite easily with in-home care, but it’s not always so easy with other types of care.
One of the unique things about elder first care is that it places a higher emphasis on the emotional needs of the elderly. The argument goes that organized care has relied on volunteers from the community and family for too long, and that this is not meeting the emotional needs that seniors have. While the minimum is being provided for when it comes to caring for physical needs, other aspects of senior care are not being addressed with the same level of detail or concern. What is happening is that many seniors find themselves unfulfilled, bored, and depressed. Elder first care attempts to rectify this.
This is accomplished by looking at each senior citizen receiving care as a unique individual, rather than just another person that needs to be “watched.” This concept is be expanded in Canada right now, as residential care facilities, such as what assisted living and nursing homes provide, and using these facilities to act as a sort of hub where more services than just senior care can be provided. This reduces the risk of potentially dangerous travel to appointments and other activities, and it makes senior care areas much more friendly places. A lot of seniors struggle with being cooped up because they believe that their freedom is restricted, but by making accommodations for things to come to them, then their freedom and ability to enjoy it is enhanced instead. This has a huge boost when it comes to mental health, and it provides for a better overall quality of care in many cases.
Many care services and even some nursing homes already provide excellent elder first care, even if this isn’t exactly what it is called. In fact, many facilities in the U.S. already do what is being done and they do it quite successfully. The point is that this isn’t always the case, and it leaves some big gaps when it comes to quality of care. If you are looking for the best senior care that you can find for an older family member, and you are leaning toward residential care, this might be something that you will want to consider. We understand that you want the very best when it comes to care for your mom or dad, and regardless of what you decide, using Paradise’s services to help you make the best decision possible can be very beneficial to you and your family.
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