Currently getting my Mother-in-Law moved into an Assisted Living home, and have found the whole process rather eye opening.
I was wondering how our experience compares to how it works in The UK.
Firstly, all the brochures and websites for these facilities show healthy people enjoying playing shuffle board or laughing and smiling in groups having a fine meal. The impression is of being on a seniors cruise ship.
In reality when you tour these facilities, most of the residents are using walkers or wheelchairs, many have oxygen going, and they seem insular, lonely and certainly not smiling. The odd one or two will be talking or sharing a dinning table.
Secondly, the staff are non-medical, the facilities cannot do anything other than distribute medication. They cannot take blood pressures, or change bandages - to have this type of care requires going into a skilled nursing facility and additional cost. Any medical problem will result in the paramedics being called, or the resident being sent to a doctors office.
Basically the places are an all inclusive hotel, with the addition of care to help you dress and bathe (at additional cost), and to make sure you take your medications.
The places are incredibly depressing, despite their efforts to make out the contrary. Whoever coined the phrase, "God's Waiting Room" nailed it.
I'm going to have to watch some re-runs of One Foot in the Grave for inspiration!
I was wondering how our experience compares to how it works in The UK.
Firstly, all the brochures and websites for these facilities show healthy people enjoying playing shuffle board or laughing and smiling in groups having a fine meal. The impression is of being on a seniors cruise ship.
In reality when you tour these facilities, most of the residents are using walkers or wheelchairs, many have oxygen going, and they seem insular, lonely and certainly not smiling. The odd one or two will be talking or sharing a dinning table.
Secondly, the staff are non-medical, the facilities cannot do anything other than distribute medication. They cannot take blood pressures, or change bandages - to have this type of care requires going into a skilled nursing facility and additional cost. Any medical problem will result in the paramedics being called, or the resident being sent to a doctors office.
Basically the places are an all inclusive hotel, with the addition of care to help you dress and bathe (at additional cost), and to make sure you take your medications.
The places are incredibly depressing, despite their efforts to make out the contrary. Whoever coined the phrase, "God's Waiting Room" nailed it.
I'm going to have to watch some re-runs of One Foot in the Grave for inspiration!
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