A nursing home is a residential facility for the care of disabled or aged people. Nursing homes can also be called convalescent homes, long term care centers, elderly care facilities or rest homes. The services offered may include cleaning, helping with meal preparation, dressing, bathing and related assistance. Some houses offer services like medical care, companionship, occupational or speech therapy. The services of nursing homes can be extended by the residents" family members or friends.
There are different types of nursing homes. They include adult or geriatric (ages 55 and above), long-stay, short-stay, assisted living facilities or custodial care homes. Adult and geriatric nursing homes are generally run by skilled nursing care professionals. Long-stay nursing homes are for the aged and those who require constant medical care.
Assisted living homes are designed for helping the elderly and handicapped to live an assisted life in familiar surroundings. These homes usually have a medical director and house staff on duty. The medical director is responsible for supervising the home residents, medical treatment and any other necessary services provided. The house staff is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene of all the living areas including bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways, common areas and laundry rooms.
It is important that you choose the right nursing home for your loved one. There are many to choose from and selecting the right one can be overwhelming. Quite often it comes down to recommendations by friends and acquaintances who've used local care homes for their loved ones. If you can't find anyone with such reccomendations, consider contacting an experienced senior care consultant who can advise you. They will have knowledge and access to a wide variety of senior living homes that will best meet your loved one's needs.
Article kindly provided by magnoliawa.com