Don't you think we should care for our elderly at home, rather than send them of

1. 78

   Shil1978posted 14 years ago

   Don't you think we should care for our elderly at home, rather than send them off to nursing homes?

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2. 0

   scrambleposted 14 years ago

   It gets to the point where an elderly person needs 24 hours per day care and that is when it become impractical. Ideally we would employ a nurse to care for them in their own home, if we don't have to go to work ourselves but it often gets to the point where the care needs to be specialized.

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3. 69

   snagerriesposted 14 years ago

   Just ask a question to yourself that if you are an elder person what will you prefer? Would you like to stay with your children or would you like to go to nursing home all alone??

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4. 60

   peteskathposted 14 years ago

   I am a Home Health Liaison. I find that the majority of families  'do not' send their loved ones off to nursing homes.
   #1. It is very costly
   #2. It is usually a last move, when the family cannot
         do the care associated with long term health issues.
   #3. Education is needed on the home-health option.
        "Age in Place".
   #4. Group homes are popping up all over the country. 
         People live with others and are visited by Nurses.

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5. 59

   c.ruizposted 14 years ago

   I really do believe we should care for them at home.
   My grandma is now 84 years old and lives at home with us.
   Think of it this way, in terms of your mom or dad, once they get older, would you really want to send them to one of those after all that they did for you?
   I mean, it's the least you can do for them, instead of sending them somewhere where they'll be miserable.
   I'm not attacking you or anything, just giving my point of view.
   And I'm not saying all parents gave everything they could for their children, so I don't judge if that decision is made by others, but in my case they did. I could never be able to live with myself if I put my mother in a nursing home.

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6. 60

   MickSposted 14 years ago

   Wherever practical it is best to keep them in the community with their independence.  I have two neighbours in their 90s, next door, A, 96, and B, 95, our gardens are joined with no fence, I can get straight through.
   A is fine, she walks with a stick, a frame if a long way, she has a lift to get into the bath, a carer comes and helps her and she can bang on the wall if she needs me in emergency, she was 96 last Tuesday (22/07) and we went in for a shot of the hard stuff and some birthday cake:-)
   B is different, fiercely independent to her own detriment, I had to go in and pick her up at Christmas time, her remaining family, her nephew is in his mid-seventies and can't do much and lives 30 miles away, she's had a couple of spells in hospital since Christmas, I think it may be that she will have to go into care.

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7. 58

   wytegarillazposted 14 years ago

   If you are strong enough to lift them  up from the floor , into bed & change their nappies throught the day and night and be there 24 hours a day it could work
   If I was like my uncle is I would rather be in a home where they are trained to lookafter you and have visitors.

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8. 0

   Always Greenerposted 14 years ago

   In other cultures, the elderly are cared for at home by their sons and daughters - however they have invested the same care into said sons and daughters well past 18 years of age.

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9. 60

   bjspivey-riversposted 14 years ago

   That depends on what their health needs are and how well you can meet them.  Of course, the elderly person would rather be at home, you would, too.  If they are able to care for themselves it's not hard to keep them at home.  But the more needs they have, the harder it is to meet their needs at home.  What about a person with a feeding tube in their stomach, or a catheter, or oxygen machine?  It can get complicated.  I would keep a person at home as long as I could.

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10. 0

    bluetiger1520posted 14 years ago

    Yes we should because nursing homes abuse our elderly.

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11. 66

    EnergyAdvisorposted 14 years ago

    I live in Surinam and here it's normal that the family takes care of the elderly. We don't even have nursing homes. Well maybe one or two but you don't want to live there. But personally I find it a good thing to take care of them at home. I've been to some nursing homes and I never got a good feeling about them.

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12. 60

    Somecallmegreatposted 14 years ago

    I think they should decide. If they want to be 'independant' and 'assisted', they should be able to decide what assisted living complex they want.. If they are incapable of deciding for themselves, it is always better for them to be with family. If an elder relative is suffering from dementia or something similar, family is the only option in my eyes. Not only is it safer, but its better for the patient as well.

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13. 60

    nniirr123posted 14 years ago

    Yes you are absolutely rite shil but the problem start when we make nursing homes and call it a work of charity that encourage people to send their elders to these homes if we dont have these homes then some how we have to keep our elders in our home. Elders are the charm of our faimlies if send them to nursing homes it means we are seeding a plant which will be cut by our fore generations.

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14. 51

    Katerina Scugliaposted 14 years ago

    My husband has Multiple Sclerosis.  We have been married for 40 years and of those years, 38 years of them have been with this illness. We have three children and five grandchildren.  He was diagnosed with MS in 1972 and walks with crutches.
    He has been bedridden at times and in and out of a wheelchair. As of now, he walks with crutches.  I am not patting myself on the back but I've stuck by him and taken care of him but I have health issues of my own and when I was young I could do what was needed for him when he was bedridden or in a wheelchair but I cannot lift him anymore and if he ever gets worse again I would put him in a nursing home.  There are good nursing facilities, my daughter is a RN and she has worked in them in her training.  I, myself, would want to go into a home rather then burden my children with my care when that happens.  Do you know that caregivers can end up dying taking care of the ill spouse?   Stress can kill you too.   Also, I think in a lot of cases a woman will take care of a chronically ill spouse then what a man would.

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15. 60

    freelanceauthorposted 14 years ago

    Elderlys need care, attention, and love. They may get proper care and attention at the nursing homes; but more importantly they definitely need love coming from the people they also love so much. Remember we are all going into that stage some day; and for me I definitely want to stay at home with my family.

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16. 60

    gorforposted 14 years ago

    By experience as I deal with these issues professionally  I would say that there is no right or wrong answer. While in some cases older people are better off at home there are many frail older people living isolated and depressed and they could be better off in a decent nursing home where at least they could have some human contact. Abuse on older people is well publicised when it happens in nursing homes, a lot less when it happens at home by members of their own family although it is not uncommon at all. When older people suffer from dementia, for instance, their family members are not always skilled enough to deal with it (if you are familiar with anyone with very advanced dementia you know what I mean)  and might find it difficult to stay calm 24/7 especially as they are emotionally involved. A trained professional who can be emotionally detached would be a better choice, unfortunately many nursing homes are staffed by badly trained and demotivated staff with a very low status but that it is another issue altogether.

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17. 77

    schoolgirlforrealposted 14 years ago

    Yes, if possible....
    My family has been doing this for BOTH my parents.  My father first and now my Mom too.
    It's very tiring mostly because one or both can be very demanding and our situation is different in dysfunction upbringing.
    
    But in general it's the kindest thing you can do--only if they are able to get around, or you will need expensive care....
    so it sort of depends on if it's affordable and if any relatives have time.

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18. 61

    Jodie Turnerposted 14 years ago

    I think this question needs to be addressed within families as early as possible so that the elderly person can state their preference.
    If the elderly person would prefer to stay at home, and their family wants to assist, the next step is ascertain what support is needed to make that happen. We all know that as people age they often need help with certain tasks. This can become more pronounced if the person suffers from health conditions such as dementia or Parkinson's..
    There are many services available to help elderly people remain living at home - depending on the country you live in some of these may be funded by your insurance or government programs. Often the cost of home care can be far cheaper then a nursing home. You can also arrange a paid carer. These sort of arrangements can take some of the pressure off the family and make the choice to stay at home an easy one to make.

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19. 59

    cindy lynnposted 13 years ago

    It all depends, I think if we are able to care for our elderly at home that it is a great idea. They will eat better and rest better, When it is not possible to care for your loved one, sometimes rehab can be a good alternative, this way they can get aggressive therapy and go home much stronger and independent. When a loved ones needs 24 hr care, it can be impossible to care for them at home.sometimes when a loved one goes to a nursing home, it makes it possible for you to come and spend quality time with them, instead of when you care for them at home , you're both exhausted.

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20. 61

    ukdementiaposted 12 years ago

    We should really. Would guess it would be cheaper and your elderly parents would get more one-to-one care.
    Not so bad if you got the room in your house and the time to give proper care. I know I work to many hours to be able to give real help if it was needed (thankfully not needed) to my lovely elderly mother.

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21. 54

    Bobabooey1posted 12 years ago

    I have mixed feelings about this, I think it can be a very good or very bad experience depending on the area and type of help available.  I was helping my mother find a place and she considered an assisted living center then she read an e book on amazon for kindle that is Called "Warehousing the Elderly" by Stratton and she changed her mind, so now we are considering a larger home to make her more comfortable.  Good luck

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22. 55

    chicagoattorneyposted 12 years ago

    Definately we must care our elderly at home and not send them to any nursing home. And if we keep our elderly at home and abuse them it is bad and it is better to send them to nursing home.
    
    If any person thinks that you are abused by some one and case is under nursing home abuse you should consult am experienced nursing home abuse lawyer .
    http://www.libertyvillepersonalinjuryla … ence-abuse

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23. 96

    letstalkabouteducposted 9 years ago

    If your parents were good, loving parents to you, I can see how you'd want to care for them in your home when they get too old to live alone. However, if you come from a dysfunctional family, I think it's a bad idea. Also, you have to have a home with the proper set-up so everyone can have some privacy. Also, establish some ground rules where the older person must establish a life/routine for herself and not just depend on her adult-child for everything. When my mom comes to visit me, she expects 100 percent of my time and attention. I could never devote that to her if she lived here full time. Plus I'd go insane.

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24. 52

    sherry puckettposted 8 years ago

    I think a lot of the elderly tend to go down hill, when they go to nursing homes I have seen this when I go to the homes. they just give up there families get to doing other things in the lives and they don't have enough time to go check on there family member in the nursing home. and then the patient feels like they are a burden on the family.I think they feel more loved when they are cared for at home.thank you sherry.

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