Nursing Homes – Page 4 – Growing Gray USA

When aging loved ones can no longer care for themselves the way they once could, often, they move into a nursing home. While nursing homes are beneficial, many elderly residents are unhappy living there. So what happens when your elderly parent wants to leave the nursing home? An elderly parent can leave a nursing home to live elsewhere. Nursing homes are voluntary. As long as your parent can make medical decisions for themselves, a nursing home is required to discharge them at their request. Continue reading this article to find common reasons why your parent may want to leave, what other options might be available, and ways to improve safety conditions in a home-like setting. Common Reasons for Wanting To Leave a Nursing Home If your parent communicates that they want to leave their nursing home, you should first talk with them about it. Finding out why they don't want to stay is key to understanding the problem. It also helps for them to feel heard. Just listening to them can make them feel more at ease. Here is a list of common reasons for wanting to leave a nursing home. They Miss Their Homes Sometimes they just miss home or maybe the way things used to be. Home is familiar and comforting. It's where memories were made with loved ones. It's understandable for your parent to feel this way. A nursing home is a significant change that perhaps they weren't ready to make. They’re Suffering From Loneliness They may be feeling lonely. Living in a nursing home could cause your parent to feel isolated and sad. They may feel disconnected from their loved ones outside of the nursing home. As they age, they are likely to lose their older friends and family members they were once close with. They Feel Trapped Your parent may feel stuck, and that's never a good feeling. They may have been used to their independence and are having difficulty adjusting to the drastic change. Not being able to pick up and go whenever they please or take a drive to get a change of scenery would be frustrating. There’s a Lack of Privacy in Nursing Homes Moving from home into a room they may have to share with a stranger is understandably uncomfortable. Even with room dividers, it is hard not to feel exposed. The nursing staff needs to come in and out of their room at any time to either care for them or their roommate. This could make them feel as though they have no space that is just their own anymore. Elderly Abuse If your parent confides in you that they are experiencing abuse, or if you suspect they are, this is very serious. You should immediately contact the administration, a nursing home ombudsman, and local authorities to open an investigation. An ombudsman is there to protect residents' rights and advocate for them within the nursing home facility. Elderly abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial. Learn the signs to help protect your aging loved ones. They’re Not Receiving the Care They Need Your parent may want to leave because they don't feel they are being taken care of appropriately. This is nursing home neglect and should be reported. Signs of neglect include: Poor hygiene Unexplained injuries Malnutrition Depression Anxiety Unsanitary living conditions Some nursing homes may have procedures about when a patient can leave, while others allow patients to leave whenever they want. I’ve discussed the differences in a comprehensive guide. Don’t miss it. Can Nursing Home Residents Leave Whenever They Want? Consider the Services Your Parent Needs If the way your parent is feeling can't be resolved in a way that makes them feel okay to stay there, then it's time to determine the next step. Consider the type of care your parent needs and if leaving a nursing home facility is the right choice. Some questions to think about to help you decide would be: What help do they need? What options are available? What safety precautions need to be taken to make their environment safer? Thinking these questions over should help you narrow down the type of care your parent needs and what options you can consider as an alternative to a nursing home facility. Alternative Living Arrangements Many different places provide a home-like setting while offering a range of personal support services. Your parent can also choose to stay in their own home and have home health aid or a caretaker. Some popular alternatives to a nursing home include: Assisted living facilities Home care Senior apartments Living with a family member Holistic care Continuing-care retirement facilities Tips for a Safer Environment If you've decided that leaving the nursing home is the direction your parent wants to take, but you are concerned with making the home safer, that is understandable. Several products you can purchase are specifically geared to elder home safety. Look around the home and note any concerns you may have in rooms. Some of the most dangerous rooms in the house for an elderly parent are the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. Bathroom Safety Products It's not a surprise that slips and falls happen in the bathroom. There are many potential hazards to consider for your elderly parent. Luckily, quite a few things can make this a much safer space for your loved one. Helpful products include: Grab bar. A secured grab bar in the shower and throughout the bathroom will help with stability. This Tesuchan Grab Bar 2-Pack (available on Amazon.com) is perfect for shower safety. It has anti-slip silicone grips for extra support. Non-slip bath rugs. These are a must. It's extremely easy to trip on bath rugs, and by purchasing a non-slip option, there is no risk of it moving when stepped on. This Genteele Bath Mat (available on Amazon.com) is non-slip and super absorbent; safe for getting out of the shower. A shower chair. Place one of these inside the shower so your elderly parents can sit while they wash. If this is something you are looking for, try this Medline Shower Chair (available on Amazon.com). It has padded armrests and back support and can support up to 350 lbs (159 kg). Bedroom Safety Products Bedrooms can also be hazardous. Getting into and out of bed can be difficult for older people, and unfortunately, once they climb in bed, they don’t always stay there. Many elderly people wake up several times a night to use the restroom, because of restless leg syndrome, or for other reasons. Useful products for bedroom safety include: Bed rails are useful for helping senior citizens get in and out of bed. Grab bars placed throughout the room will provide stability for your parent. Flashlights should be kept next to the bed in case the power goes out or, if needed, to provide more light in poorly lit areas. Kitchen Safety Products The kitchen is another dangerous area for your aging parents (or for anyone of any age). Any time people are dealing with knives, skewers, and hot stove eyes, there’s a potential for danger. Elderly residents also have to worry about falling while trying to bustle around the kitchen. Helpful products needed in this room include: A fire extinguisher. This is a necessity for the kitchen. It may be a good idea to have a standard fire extinguisher as well as this second option found on Amazon: First Alert EZ Fire Spray. It’s inexpensive and highly rated; plus, it’s easier for seniors to use than some other options. First Aid Kit. A complete first aid kit with products to cover a variety of different needs is great to have on hand. This M2 BASICS First Aid Kit (available on Amazon.com) is a handy option if an accident occurs. It includes 321 items, which should have you covered no matter what the emergency. Grab bars. Again, grab bars are useful in case of slips and falls. These are just a few suggestions to improve the safety conditions in the home. Many other products are available to help your elderly parent's specific needs. Conclusion When your elderly parent tells you they want to leave the nursing home, that can be worrisome. So many things flood your mind at once; why do they want to leave? Is there something wrong? What else is out there regarding long-term care? There’s a lot to consider when making such a big decision. Is there a healthy balance between what they want and what they need? It's important to remember that senior citizens have several living options. Researching different living arrangements for your parent is the first step in finding a compromise and ensuring their safety and happiness.