Community Well-Being, Living Arrangements
Discuss the pros and cons of different living arrangements.
Aging in place is where a person is living at home for the longest time possible. At times, the person may receive assistance on a part-time basis from a health aide, nurse, or another type of paid caregiver. The advantage of this includes the comfort that a person gets of staying in their home and a sense of independence. The main disadvantage is that it may require a lot of support offered by family and friends and the careful vetting of caregivers to ensure they are capable and trustworthy (Hooyman et al., 2015).
Assisted living facilities are long-term facilities that offer partial care options such as transportation, meals, and assistance, such as dressing and bathing. The advantages include the social living of older adults with others and the availability of community activities. The disadvantages include the high costs, a loss of some level of privacy, downsizing personal property, and reduced flexibility with transportation and meal times (Hooyman et al., 2015). Do you need help with your assignment ? Contact us at eminencepapers.com.
Skilled care facilities are licensed to offer medical services round the clock, along with other care services such as dressing, bathing, and feeding. The advantages include the availability of medical professionals and nurses 24 hours a day and the fact that a professional physician oversees the care of a person. The main disadvantage is that there may be understaffing and over-crowding; persons may be unaware of the duration of their stay, thus affecting their financial decision-making capability and selling of personal property, including homes. Also, extra costs may be incurred from the facility’s extra services as the health needs change (Hooyman et al., 2015).
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are single properties that have several living arrangement options ranging from independent to nursing homes. The pros of this arrangement are that a person can stay in the residency even when the healthcare needs decline and require care at a higher level. Additionally, different contract types are offered, and this may include full life care. The main disadvantages include the high monthly and entry fees, and the waiting lists may be very long (AARP, 2019).
Senior cohousing involves attached condos or homes where a person chooses to live with fellow seniors. The persons purchase shares in a corporation and get the right to the individual property they live in. The pros of this arrangement are that it provides a sense of community, the residents are each other’s keepers, and there is cost-sharing. The disadvantages include the difference in the financial resources among the residents; there needs to be a consensus on some conditions such as the visitors and quiet hours; and there lacks a single medical care on site (Coxwell, 2020).
What is your preference for your parents or grandparents?
The last time I talked to my parents, they contemplated selling their house and moving to a smaller house, seeing that they are all alone at home. I would prefer my parents to be in a senior cohousing arrangement because they like to socialize. Additionally, being on their own property but with people they can relate with will be something I know they would appreciate a lot. In the event that one of my parents dies, the other will have a support system from the new friends they will make at the residency.
How about for yourself?
I would prefer to be in a CCRC because it will offer me a level of independence and safety at the same time. I will be assured of having medical care around the clock whenever needed. As a nurse, I know how crucial it is to get medical assistance whenever you need it, and that is what I would want.
References
AARP (2019). How Continuing Care Retirement Communities Work. https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/info-2017/continuing-care-retirement-communities.html
Coxwell, K. (2020). Expert Interview Series: The Advantages of Cohousing. https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/expert-interview-series-the-advantages-of-co-housing/
Hooyman, N. R., Kawamoto, K. Y., & Kiyak, H. A. (2015). Aging Matters.
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Question
Community Well-Being, Living Arrangements
Regardless of where we live, we know that the physical (or built) and social environments can make a profound difference in an older adult’s sense of well-being. No environment is inherently good or bad. What matters is the extent that the environment fits with the physical, cognitive, and emotional needs and allows them to maintain a degree of control over their surroundings. The vast majority of older adults lives in independent housing and
wants to continue to do so and regardless of the type of living situation, being able to have some control over relocation decisions is paramount. For older adults who can no longer remain in independent housing, there is a growing number of residential living situations. Assisted living and adult family homes are rapidly becoming cost-effective options to nursing homes for older people who need help with ADLs but not necessarily 24-hour care. In addition, home care is now the fastest growing component of personal health care expenditures and allow older people to age in place while bringing services such as skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, and personal household care to the person’s home. In recent years, the number of homeless adults age 55 and older has been growing and often face chronic medical, psychiatric, and cognitive disorders that go unattended because of inadequate access to health services. The need for community-based long-term services and supports that allow elders to age in place will grow. And, although future cohorts of elders will have more options, these will depend on their financial resources.
Module 11 Objectives: At the end of this module, the student will be able to:
- 1. Report how elders’ living situations can affect their well-being
- 2. Discuss the various types of housing and long-term care living arrangements for older adults
- 2b. Describe “aging in place,” “age-friendly communities,” and “culture change”
- 3. Enumerate the different social and health services to support aging in place
- 4. Report some of the challenges that older prisoners face
- 4b. List some recommendations to address their health care
Module 11 Resources / Materials:
- 1. Textbook reading: Chapter 11 Community Well-Being: Living Arrangements and Social Interactions
- 2. Videos:
- Changing Aging TED Talk
- Greenhouse Project
Write 2 double-spaced pages reflecting on the following case/scenario:
Discuss the pros and cons of different living arrangements. For example, there are places like the Greenhouse concept, independent living at home, traditional retirement facilities. Be sure to consider the social and health services available in each scenario. What is your preference for your parents or grandparents? How about for yourself?