Levels of Senior Care

Cindy K. Sproles

As our parents age and become less independent, it’s important to learn the various types of care available to meet their needs. Care ranges from simple in-home assistance to full-time skilled care. Wading the assistive care river can be confusing and difficult without guidance, so it’s always good to have these conversations with our loved ones long before the need arises. Knowing how our loved ones think about their long-term care helps families plan. Though the conversations can be awkward and sometimes less than fruitful, the fact remains that making an effort provides a starting point. If these conversations can be held when parents are in good health, responses are easier to address, and making sure the wishes of the loved ones are written down will save frustration and confusion when the time arrives that those wishes must be instituted.

Independent living — This care covers an array of services from aging in place, where a loved one may opt to have all levels of their care provided in their private home, to moving into independent living homes or apartments where care is minimal but available. It may begin with hiring an in-home, non-medical company to provide reliable caregivers to help with meal prep, companionship, light housekeeping, and daily living skills. Some families may choose private caregiver companies throughout the remainder of their loved one’s life. The options are wide and available depending on the care needed. A word of caution — should your loved one buy into an independent living community, do the homework so families are aware of all the requirements and contracts involved. Educating yourself will prevent unwanted or unexpected loopholes should your loved one wish to move away from the community.

Assisted living — This care bumps up to the personal abilities of your loved one. Residents must be able to get themselves out of a building without assistance in an emergency like a fire. The care here also comes in packages depending on the needs of the senior. Assisted living will provide all meals, laundry, housekeeping, and an on-duty nurse around the clock. Assisted living is a nice step up for those who are still very capable of caring for themselves but may have a larger need arise later. Pricing is a base price for housing, meals, and laundry services with skilled services, such as medication management, available at an additional add-on price. Assisted living offers the benefit of a close community and watchful eyes over all those in residency. This in-house facility living can manage seniors until fulltime skilled nursing is necessary.

Memory care and skilled care — As the needs of our loved ones progress, the need for memory care or skilled care may become necessary. Some assisted living facilities provide memory care units for seniors who have Alzheimer’s or dementia, but many times these services shift to skilled living (nursing home) facilities where more in-depth care can be managed. Skilled nursing care moves to the highest level of care. The medical needs of a loved one may be more than a family can manage at home and the necessity for 24/7 skilled medical care is required.

Keep in mind that each of these future care alternatives carries a variety of levels. When the time arrives that more help is required, spend time visiting facilities and communities, and check their lists of care packages available as well as in-house availabilities and individual provisions. Seek out the best fit for your loved one and remember that the more proactive families become in the care of their parents, the better care they receive because you are informed and active in their care.

Cucumber Dill Sandwiches

Yields 24 small toasts

24 baguette slices or rye cocktail bread

1/2 English cucumber

6 ounces cream cheese

3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more to garnish

Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Thinly slice the bread and place the slices on a baking sheet. Toast for about 10 minutes until crisp.

2. Thinly slice the cucumber.

3. Mix the cream cheese with the chopped dill. Season with kosher salt and black pepper, to taste.

4. Spread each bread slice with the cream cheese. Top with a sliced cucumber, a bit of kosher salt, and a sprig of fresh dill.

Source: acouplecooks.com/cucumber-dill-toasts-picnic-recipe

Avocado Tuna Salad

Yields 2 servings

One 5-ounce can white meat tuna

1/2 celery rib (¼ cup finely chopped)

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

¼ cup chopped dill pickles (2 pickles)

1/2 ripe avocado

2 teaspoons lemon juice*

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

1. Drain the tuna. Place it in a bowl and use a fork to break apart any large clumps.

2. Roughly chop the avocado. Finely chop the celery, red onion, and dill pickles.

3. Mix together the tuna and vegetables with the remaining ingredients. Eat immediately: the avocado will start to brown after exposure to air.

4. *Mix it up! Try it Mexican-style: swap the lemon for lime and add 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro!

Source: acouplecooks.com/avocado-tuna-salad

Cowboy Caviar

Yields 8 Servings

For the vegetables

Two 15-ounce cans black eyed peas

15-ounce can black beans

1 15-ounce can corn

1 red bell pepper

1 cup cherry tomatoes

3 green onions

1 medium jalapeno, seeded (optional)

½ cup chopped cilantro

2 teaspoons kosher salt

For the dressing

2 tablespoons lime juice

4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

4 tablespoons olive oil

1. Drain and rinse the beans and corn.

2. Dice the bell pepper. Chop the cherry tomatoes. Thinly slice the green onions. Seed and dice the jalapeno pepper. Chop the cilantro.

3. Add all the vegetables and beans to a bowl. Mix with the kosher salt.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, and cumin. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix to combine.

5. Eat immediately, or refrigerate until serving (it tastes even better after allowing to marinade 30 minutes or longer). Serve with chips for dipping. Stores refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Source: acouplecooks.com/texas-caviar-cowboy-caviar

Easy Pinwheels

Yields 40 pinwheels

6 cups (5 ounces) fresh baby spinach leaves or ½ cup defrosted frozen spinach

4 burrito size 10-inch flour tortillas

8 ounces cream cheese or soft goat cheese

⅓ cup finely chopped sundried tomatoes in oil or jarred roasted red peppers

½ teaspoon dried basil

½ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Place the spinach leaves in a skillet with ¼ cup water. Heat over medium heat for a few minutes until the spinach completely wilts down, about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the spinach to a bowl. Add cold water to instantly cool it, then squeeze out as much water as possible. Finely chop the spinach. (If using frozen spinach, defrost it, squeeze out the liquid and finely chop it.)

2. Chop the sundried tomatoes or bell peppers. To a medium bowl, add the spinach, sundried tomatoes, cream cheese or goat cheese, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and salt. Mix it until it comes together into a smooth filling (we found it’s easiest to use clean hands to help break up clumps). Taste and add a pinch of salt if desired.

3. Place a tortilla on a cutting board, and spread it with ⅓ cup of the filling. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Roll up the tortilla very tightly, making sure to keep the roll very tight at the beginning (to avoid a hole in the middle!). Repeat for all tortillas. Refrigerate in a sealed container for at least 2 hours to allow the filling to set. Slice off the ends of the rolls and discard, then slice into 3/4-inch slices to make pinwheels.

4. They last up to 3 days refrigerated, but they taste best day of because the tortillas become softer over time.

Source: acouplecooks.com/easy-pinwheel-recipe