Monday, November 30, 2009

Nursing home facilities emphasize privacy. They normally allow just immediate family members to visit. Many times nursing home facilities focus on rehabilitation and extending life. Hospice settings allow patients to die at home, but they are there to control pain and keep them comfortable. Friends and family members are allowed to visit at any time. Care providers, friends and family are including in the plan of care process. Many family friends come and provide service to the family such as cooking, cleaning and maybe some yard work and emotional support. Prices vary on nursing homes and hospice based on the patient’s need. This was the biggest barrier to pricing. According to Autumn Journey Hospice, “Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. It neither hastens nor postpones death.” My wife’s friend passed away last summer from brain cancer. Her family had chosen hospice for last month of her life. The family claims that it was the best thing for her and the family as they were able to say their goodbyes. Although it was still a painful grieving process as expected during the passing of a loved one, they believe they have been able to adjust and move ahead in their lives. Many people do not chose hospice as they may not have the time or emotional support to care for their loved ones.

One of our most respected nursing facilities is Whidbey Island Manor. “Whidbey Island Manor is a family-owned and operated 57-bed skilled nursing facility located in Oak Harbor, Washington.” Their mission and core values incorporated skilled care, compassion and “dignity”. They are able to care for young and elderly including adults with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. They work towards restoring independence in efforts to return the patients to their families. If that is not possible, the goal still remains to help them be as self sufficient as possible.

I never had any misconceptions of the aging families as caring for the elderly has been part of my job for the last seven years. However, I used to believe that once the elderly checked into a nursing home, there was no return and their lives soon end. I haven’t heard of many elderly people left nursing homes after rehabilitation. I would have to say that my past research did not change any preconceived views I had. The materials seems to correlate to what I have experienced working in elderly group homes and nursing homes.

You may also be interested in Funeral Planning: If I Lived to be 120 Years Old

Digg!
submit to reddit Academics Blogs

4 comments:

Kate Smedley said...

Informative post Chris - my gran is in a nursing home, they are really attentive and it is a fact that quite a few of us will end up the same way. A good nursing home or hospice is a blessing and at least we know our loved ones are cared for.

Chris Stonecipher said...

Hi Kate,
Thanks for stopping by an visiting my blog and your comment too. My grandmother spent her last two weeks of life in a nursing home and they were quite professional too. My father and his brothers were quite pleased with the care their mom recieved. Your grandmother is in my prayers.
Chris

Anonymous said...

great post! but i don't like to live in a nursing home. i will go back to my country Philippines and die there with my family hahahhaha...I walk almost everyday at the nursing home and I saw old folks seems like they are sad, imagine? why is it that way? when u r old ur kids will throw u away to a nursing home and won't have the sincerity to take care for you? but they carry you for 9 months in your womb and feed them give them shelter when they were young and more importantly you give them life isn't it? got my point? I am a daughter myself and sad to say my mom died when we were very young but if given a chance i wold love to take care my mom till her dying days, well in the Philippines nursing home is not a kind of thing no such old folks home maybe there is but that's very rare...

Chris Stonecipher said...

Zuveena,
I too would not like to live in a nursing home. Unfortunately, in my grandmother's case, her son's where senior citizens themselves and they had no help. My father and his brothers are in their 70's and their mother lived to be 94 years old.

Post a Comment

Featured Site

Your Ad Here