Deciding between home care and day care
A day program may be the right alternative if you are worried about the care someone coming to your home might provide. They can offer more peace of mind because of their visibility. There is less chance of mistreatment when so many people are watching than there might be in the privacy of your relative’s home. They also offer a more stimulating environment. They may be less costly than one-to-one care. Also, when you choose a day hospital, medical and nursing services are there, lessening the work of orchestrating these visits on your own. However, in general day care does not offer the flexibility of home care. Centers tend to serve a more limited group, people who qualify for the program. Your relative may be barred from a program if there is a change in medical condition or if behavioral problems develop. The hours are more rigid. Services tend to be available only on weekdays. And because patients cannot attend the program during an acute illness, choosing this alternative means being more vulnerable to the need for other arrangements. Because it is even more difficult to go somewhere strange than to have someone strange come in, it also may be harder to convince your loved one to attend a daycare program. So if convenience is a main consideration, home care is a better choice.
Respite care
This newest and therefore least widespread program is specifically for caregivers, to give them a break from the burden of ministering fulltime to a disabled family member. The person admitted to respite care periodically enters an inpatient setting -generally a nursing home or geriatric center – for several days or longer so family members can go on vacation or have time off. The major disadvantages of respite care are its limited availability and the fact that no health insurance covers it.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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