One of the most difficult decisions families find themselves facing is whether to send an elderly parent to a nursing home or to keep him or her in the house and provide home nursing care.  Moving an elderly person to a nursing home can be traumatic because your mom or dad is forced to give up familiar surroundings which provide a lot of emotional security and stability.

Home nursing care and nursing homes provide important services for the elderly.  Each type of care also provides services which fit particular circumstances.  Though most people would like to keep their parents in their own home, it is not always possible.  For example, senior citizens who are in danger of frequently falling may not be able to live on their own. 

When an elderly person needs specialized nursing care, there are several factors to evaluate when deciding if it is better to have a nurse or home aid worker visit the house each day or to move the senior citizen to a nursing home.  Most families try to keep their parents in their own home as long as possible.  Some families will move an elderly parent into their home and have a home health care service assist with their care.  But sometimes the care needed is obviously going to be too complex or long-term and the nursing home option is the better choice.1

Home nursing care is often used when a higher level of care is needed on a temporary basis.  For example, your mother falls and breaks her hips and enters a period of rehabilitation but is expected to become mobile again.  Home nursing care is sometimes chosen as hospice care when there will be no recovery but death is not imminent.  These are not situations we like to think about, but most families face these kinds of decisions at some point.

Nursing homes today are much different than simple long term care facilities.  Research has shown that people need emotional and psychological support in addition to medical care.   Home health care can insure a home bound elderly person is getting required medical care, but the visiting professionals is on a limited time schedule and offers only brief emotional or social support.

A nursing home that offers a variety of services can provide a healthy and happy environment for elderly patients unable to live on their own or unable to be left alone for any period of time.  A nursing home provides meals, housing, and medical care, but it also offers social interaction which keeps the mind engaged.

Sometimes families choose a nursing home because they are not able to provide the level of care needed due to poor mental or physical functioning.   Elderly wearing medical devices or experiencing medical complications might need to be moved to a nursing home.

Deciding between home nursing care or a nursing home for an elderly parent is not an easy decision.  But it’s important to make the right decision for the parent you love and for your own peace of mind that his or her needs are being met with thoroughness and compassion.

Sources:

1 http://www.medicare.gov/nursing/Alternatives.asp