Terminology  used for different type of Adult Care & Services

In this part of user education program we are highlighting the different terminology being used by different Companies/Organisations/Institutions & Individuals, and what they stand for.

Adult day service centers provide a coordinated program of compassionate services for adults in a group setting. Services are designed to provide  time pass and health care  services to adults who need supervised care in a safe place outside the home during the day. Generally relevant to those who stay with younger working generation and are out on work during the day and both the parents and younger generation feel comfortable if the adults can go to community setting where in they have full care and companionship They also offer respite to care givers at home most probably to children looking after parents from the demanding responsibilities of caregiving. Adult day centers generally operate during normal business hours five/six  days a week and more often part of local RWA system . Some programs offer services in the evenings and on weekends. Although each facility may differ in terms of features, the general services are offered by most adult day centers are social activities, transportation, meals and snacks, personal care and therapeutic activities.

There is an urgent need for such centers that can be run professionally and can give a good commercial returns too. AVI is on look out for partners having about 3000-3500 sq ft floor area to house this facility

Home Care and Services

Home care is a cost-effective alternative to hospital care or other institutional care. You can receive health care or personal care services with in your own home with the assistance of a caregivers. Some agencies offer such care givers on 12 hours shift basis. Services are available to people of all ages on a basis of 24 hours to daily visits, monthly visits or even on  hourly. Some  older people are choosing this service for reading ,talking shopping and care. However this service provides lack of continuous mental simulating company and suffers from security ,besides being expensive

Hospice

Hospices or high dependence care homes  are  special care designed to provide compassion and support for individuals in the final phases of a terminal illness. Hospice care seeks to enable patients to spend their last days with dignity in as comfort and pain –free manner to the extend possible. Hospice care can be in a number of settings: in the privacy of your home, in a hospice facility or a nursing home. Care homes are now coming into India but mostly of social organization minded and high quality.

Most of these also cater to care needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other related memory disorders. There is a growing trend towards specialized communities that provide care and housing tailored to the special needs of individuals with the disease. What  is key in such care is that facilities apart , is the need to to foster resident individual skills and interests in an environment that helps to diminish confusion and agitation. There is need to provide full fledged facilities exclusively for senior with such disorder in view of growth in seniors having such disorders.

These hospice also provide Rehab/Nursing Facility. Wherein room and board, personal care, supervision and medical care is provided till an individual is fit to go back to their sweet home. These facilities provide following level of service:

Basic care– Required to maintain a resident’s activity of daily living like personal care, ambulation, supervision and safety.

Skilled Care – Requires the services of a registered nurse, on a regular basis, for treatment and procedures.

Continuing Care Communities or Senior Living Apartments

Continuing Care retirement Communities (CCRC), also known as life care communities, are residential campuses that provide a continuum of care – from apartments /home to assisted living and if needed, skilled nursing care ,all in one location. CCRC communities range in entrance fees/rates and available services. We are often using terms like retirement homes ,homes for elders Old Age homes for this type of service. India is witnessing a large no of these facilities coming up but most of them are lacking hospice facility

Usually starting age is varies from 55 to 60 years of age. These communities have an on-site meal program housekeeping services. These are till now  mostly on sale basis though few have come up on lease rental  model. Some  of these communities include amenities such as a club house/meeting room, library, laundry facilities, beauty/barber shop, transportation, fitness center, etc.

Active Senior Living/Independent Living

These communities often referred to as retirement or congregate-living communities are designed specifically for independent senior adults in apartment like setting with 24-hour on-site supervision. Services usually include, but in some cases are optional: meals, laundry and housekeeping. Social Activities are usually entertaining and educational and help to foster a great sense of community among the residents. Few such facilities have come up in India

What is appropriate?

Where an elderly couple or individual is alone and living on their own it is necessary to evaluate whether the facility being looked at will offer all type of care which one may need or may not need in different stages of old age.

Who may need what no one knows .

Watch out for yourselves before you a choice .Wait for the next in series which will help you assess what you are planning to get into meets your needs….

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