[ Healthy Living ] BY MICHAEL REA
Senior Health Options A s we get older and closer to retirement, the question of where we will spend our golden years is always on the horizon. We are lucky to live in America in which we can retire at a fairly young age in relation to our life expectancy and have a few years to enjoy retirement. However, it is very possible that as you age your or your spouse/partner’s healthcare will require more assistance than you will be able to provide on your own. What are the options that are out there? Today seniors have many options that provide ways to receive medical assistance with their care while also enjoying the autonomy of “normal” life. Continuous Care Living provides care for seniors that are still very active. Some of the communities offer house cleaning services, a common dining area for meals, regular group activities and even vacations. Seniors can experience the good part of retirement while being prepared for the worst. These communities also provide progressive care to their residents if a need arises with assisted living facilities and skilled nursing/rehab facilities. Assisted living facilities provide more care while still catering to some amenities. Patients are giving extra assistance with various tasks such as taking medications that can become more difficult has one ages. These communities still offer a wide array of activities and ways to socialize keeping the senior active. The final option is a skilled nursing facility. Mostly, these facilities are extensions of hospitals. There primary function is to help patients get well enough to either go home or to a lower level of care. Where these are the primary options available, there are new ways popping up regularly. The reinvention of doctors making house
calls allows for patients to stay at home and receive the care they need. There is also the option of adult day care, which allows for family members to go to work/school while
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their loved one is being taken care of. The best news is that if we are lucky to live long enough there will be many options available for us in the future.
November 2019 | 11
