All around the country, efforts to give senior citizens the care that they need have expanded. The knowledge that the population of seniors is growing rapidly along with the fact that there are simply not enough caregivers out there right now to meet the anticipated need of this population has helped to fuel this growth.
But there are still warning signs out there that it’s not enough.
In fact, some parts of the country already don’t have enough resources and those that need care are finding themselves in difficult situations. For example, in the state of Maine, many nursing homes have closed or reduced the number of people that they serve. A few years ago, there were 10,000 nursing home beds available. As of the end of 2022, there were less than 6,500 beds available. Maine has one of the highest percentages of individuals over the age of 65 in the country, with more than 21 percent of residents falling into this category. Many of these people have been able to find care in other forms, such as within assisted living facilities or through in-home care. But if these beds become necessary in the future, residents of parts of the state might find themselves in trouble.
Now, nursing homes aren’t necessary for a lot of people that currently reside there. Not everyone needs medical level care during their senior years. But as the population of elderly folk continues to grow, need is going to grow across the board. If this remains a trend, it could very well prove to be problematic in the future.
Really, only time will tell what the outcome of all of this will be. Even the changes in policy that we’ve seen–such as President Biden’s infrastructure policy that has been enacted–haven’t really had adequate time to make a difference in the lives of people that it’s meant to. There’s a lot of potential for good here, but only time can prove if that good will actually happen.
In the meantime, we each have an obligation to help those that we love. Looking for resources in our own communities, learning about how to meet needs, and even getting some training that can help us to care for our family a little better are all steps that might be beneficial.
Each situation is different. This post isn’t meant to point to specific failings or shortcomings, but rather raise attention to the fact that we often don’t understand what the needs of a loved one are. The goal is to point this out, and help guide people toward the resources that can help improve life for our families.
You can’t change everything in your community. It’s impossible for one person, or even one group of people, to put the needed changes in place and ensure that all seniors are connected to the help that they need to thrive. You know your family better than anyone. You know what will work. Getting connected to the right resources early can help prevent the potential for inadequate care.
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