Even as we continue to navigate through this new world and the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re still tasked with ensuring our seniors receive the best care possible. Virus or not, there are going to be cases when our loved ones simply cannot stay in their own homes anymore. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are beginning to open back up, but they’re still relative hotbeds for the virus. So, what can we do to make sure we’re making the best decision for our seniors while also protecting them from unnecessary risk?
First, you must determine which type of facility is best suited for your loved one. An assisted living facility will provide personal care such as meal preparation, housekeeping, and help with bathing and dressing. These facilities are designed to encourage social interaction to help prevent isolation, which is common, yet difficult to address in our current setting. Most assisted living facilities resemble a nice apartment complex or even a hotel.
If your loved one needs a higher level of care, especially for medical conditions, then a nursing home may be the best bet. The around the clock medical care provided by nursing homes is quite expensive, often double that of an assisted living facility. Assisted living facilities are also not licensed to provide medical care, so even if there is a nurse on staff, the approach will be much more hands-off. Nursing homes are also licensed with Medicare and Medicaid, which means they have to go through a rigorous set of regulations and must guarantee the patients a certain level of care.
Once you’ve determined the level of care needed to make sure your loved one is safe, it’s time to ask questions about how the facility is handling COVID-19. You’ll want to know how many cases are in the facility, what’s being done to prevent the spread, how the facility is communicating with loved ones, its policies regarding visitors, and if there’s been any impact to the level of care the facility can provide. You should also keep in mind that you will not be able to physically visit the facility before you make your decision, so you may have to ask for a virtual tour if it’s available. Transportation to the facility may also be an issue, especially if you’re moving a loved one from one state to another, so it’s important to check with the facility on their policy regarding out-of-state residents and transportation.
If you need to move a loved one to an assisted living or nursing home and need advice, please contact our office at (813) 438-8503 for a consultation with an experienced Tampa elder law attorney.