Aging and Adult Services -Help is Available When You Need It

If you are a senior or if you know one who needs the assistance of services for the aged, there are many resources and several options to consider. There are solutions available for those who wish to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, and if remaining at home isn't a viable option, there are also a number of alternate choices as well. This article will explore some of those choices for aging adults that are in need of assistance, either within the home or out.

For those aging adults who are able to remain in their own homes, either alone or with a caregiver, but still require some other assistance of some sort, there are numerous services to consider.

• Respite Care: This allows the older person's regular caregiver time away to tend to other duties, or take a much needed vacation or simply provide skilled care. Local area departments of social services or departments of aging will have information on respite care which is usually based on a sliding fee scale.
   
• Home Care Services: These services are available generally for the senior who doesn't have a regular caregiver and needs some outside assistance. This could include bathing and grooming needs, cleaning and doing laundry, shopping and running errands or even administering medicines.
   
• Meal and Transportation Services: Most every community has a Meals-On-Wheels program that delivers fresh, healthy cooked food to seniors who are unable to prepare their own. There are many volunteer organizations in communities that transport seniors to medical appointments or shopping trips that would otherwise be homebound.
   
• Adult Day Services: These centers offer aging adults a chance to interact with others and increase socialization by participating in a number of activities. Most also arrange for transportation to and from the center and offer meals and exercise programs.

There are also a number of options for aging adults who are in need of regular assistance and can no longer remain in their homes.

• Assisted Living Facilities: These offer a home-like environment for those who are somewhat independent with meals prepared daily, activities to partake in and medical assistance for those who require it.
   
• Retirement Communities: These are generally for the senior who is mostly independent but may need occasional medical care. Most communities have an on-site nurse, a medical professional and or a separate nursing unit for those in need of care.
   
• Personal Care Homes: These are licensed facilities that usually cater to a smaller number of people and offer personal care, meals, activities and supervised care.
   
• Nursing Facilities: Nursing facilities offer two types of care, intermediate and skilled, with most offering both. A skilled facility offers 24 hour care for those seniors who have serious needs or require rehabilitative care but don't need the more intensive care provided by a hospital. An intermediate facility is for those elderly persons who cannot live alone but only need minimal medical attention or assistance.