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Senior Care Types
What's The Right Community For You?
Choosing the right community for you or your loved one is important. There are many factors to weigh such as level of care, the degree of independence you wish to maintain, lifestyle, location and more! We'll help you navigate the complex care system and make the right decision for your needs.
Check out our Resources page for help in evaluating facilities, and look up violations and APS investigations for facilities and adult foster homes here.
* Team Senior is Federally prohibited from servicing the Medicaid sector. If you or your loved one receives Medicaid benefits you will need to contact your DHS case manager.
ADULT FOSTER HOMES
An Affordable Residential Option
Adult Foster Homes are an underutilized option that many people overlook. Licensed and regulated by the State of Oregon, Adult foster homes are going to be your most affordable option, and in many cases the highest level of attention and detail is spent on residents living in this setting. With a maximum of five residents per home, operated in a residential setting, it’s easy to look in on someone on a very regular basis – providing individual attention that is sometimes missed in a large scale setting. Adult Foster Homes can accommodate a wide range of needs as well, everything from your basic activities of daily living to hospice and end-of-life care. Working closely with home health and the State of Oregon, Adult Foster Homes can provide the most home-like setting, seriously attentive care and companionship and they offer this all while providing the basics: medication management, food preparation, laundry service, activities, etc.
ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY
The Highest Level Of Independence
Assisted Living communities provide the highest level of independence while living in a care setting. They are also the most diverse in terms of what they include and accept. Some assisted-living facilities operate like a resort, and some are more regimented for the protection of their resident’s health and mobility. Some provide medication management and individual meal preparation, while some provide options to subscribe to these services for an additional expense. Some provide routine checks and others assume that you are fine unless you call for help. The most common considerations are: 24 hour security, basic housekeeping,
health and social programs, and access to medical services when necessary. Assisted Living facilities provide for the most independent living under one continuous roof and in most cases they try to keep their common areas looking very nice and inviting. You cannot however assume that you know what assisted living offers if you have not seen them all.
GERIATRIC CARE MANAGER
Advocacy Regardless of Where You Live
A Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) may be a social worker, nurse, gerontologist, counselor, or other professional. They can help in a variety of ways and are considered the best alternative to having family (and better than family in our opinion, since they allow family to be family – rather than a caregiver). You can learn more about what a GCM can do for you by visiting the website for Aging Life Care Association – and remember that a GCM can be utilized regardless of where you live!
HOME HEALTH & HOME CARE
From The Comfort Of Your Own Home
Home Health is typically a service that includes skilled nursing and is provided by a registered nurse, occupational therapists and physical therapists. This is a great option for a lot of people and many times insurance companies support and promote this as it costs significantly less than a skilled nursing facility.
It’s important to know about this option because you can do physical therapy, occupational therapy, meet with an Registered Nurse, and have your blood drawn, etc., all in the comfort of your own home.
Home Health is also available in Adult Foster Homes.
Home Care is caregiving in your home. It can be as simple as companionship for safety and/or assistance with things like showering and shopping.
HOSPICE
Exceptional End-Of-Life Support
Hospice typically handles individuals that are traveling through the last part of life - managing pain, spiritual needs, emotional needs, chronic illness and symptoms. They are prepared to assist you and your family with almost every question and needed support. Their goals are to respect your personal choices and maintain the highest level of respect and dignity, while you are comfortable and able to participate in meaningful activities throughout your final days.
A common misconception with Hospice is that you must wait until you are in the final days, but that is not true. There are several options of providers you can call to gather
more information about Hospice, but it’s typically about one year out, and you can start to establish a relationship with the provider you choose. In our experience, the people that work for the Hospice organizations in Southern Oregon have beautiful, wonderful hearts and they are an exceptional support system.
MEMORY CARE
Extensive Safety & Behavioral Training
Memory Care communities are often smaller than most assisted living settings. They are unique because they have locked doors rather than just alarmed doors when exiting, thus preventing folks from being able to leave when they want. This is important in consideration of behaviors that often occur as a result of having dementia and Alzheimer’s like wandering, sundowners, exit seeking, etc. When handling someone that suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's, you must consider what can happen if they leave their home and cannot remember where they live or how to return. Memory Care communities also tend to specialize in how to handle these behaviors. There’s typically extensive training used to help keep people happy, calm and engaged, rather than upsetting them when they cannot remember from one, week, day or minute to the next.
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY
Large Scale Caregivers
Residential Care Facilities are most like an Adult Foster Home – on a much larger scale. Typically, they cater to a specific need (Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc.), but they’re capable of caring for anyone, even someone with complex needs. They are usually a minimum of ten beds with a minimum of one caregiver per five residents, with a dining area, game rooms, social gathering areas, and nicely landscaped grounds. Some facilities even have their own rotating physicians.
SKILLED NURSING & REHAB
Transitional Care
Nursing Homes are skilled nursing facilities that serve as transitional care (or rehabilitation). They are generally not meant to be long term residential care, but can serve this purpose when assisting someone that needs skilled nursing on a daily basis. Nursing homes also offer respite care, wound care, and post-acute care. And unlike most residential care options, your physician may be willing and able to personally visit you while you’re staying in a nursing home.
This can also sometimes be provided or continued by Home Health in your own home, or your long-term community. See Home Health for more information.