After the initial shock of COVID-19 last spring, most Americans were hopeful as virus spread and hospitalizations declined. But unfortunately, the transition to fall has resulted in an aggressive resurgence. And families must once again confront the realities of senior living options amid an uncontrolled pandemic that disproportionately endangers older and less healthy adults. Generally speaking, the decision is between community living (assisted living facilities) and remaining at home with caregiver services, such as those provided by BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey.
Safety is of first importance for most people, but families are increasingly concerned about the emotional and psychological effects of social isolation too. Here are reasons Americans should reconsider senior living options, using the previous COVID-19 spike and related consequences as points of reference.
Senior Communities & Outbreaks
As in the early days of the pandemic, COVID-19 outbreaks are being reported among senior living communities and assisted living facilities. While progress was made during the summer months, the virus ferociously returned, and communal living environments are once again at higher risk. Most have taken great measures to mitigate the dangers, which is to be commended. But experts agree communal living is always challenging when battling virus outbreaks.
Pointing out such risks would be counterproductive if there weren’t alternatives. But families and seniors should know there are, in fact, options. A full-service home care agency, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, has all the necessary staff and resources to keep most aging folks safely at home and living a great quality of life. Caregiver companies can provide necessary help with showers, personal hygiene, mobility assistance, and general supervision. Their aides also serve as cooks, companions, and personal assistants.
Social Isolation & Quarantines
As stated, many senior living communities have worked hard to implement new polices that both reduce the spread of COVID-19 and address issues of isolation that result from necessary social-distancing policies. However, common sense and experience to date seem to suggest the underlying challenge is communal living itself. The model’s inherent risks during pandemic conditions leave few options that don’t affect guest/family visitation in one way or another. And quarantine protocols for new residents and those exposed to COVID-19 can further inhibit quality of life for some seniors.
While experts also recommend seniors socially distance in their own homes by limiting unnecessary interactions, risk is a game of numbers. And an aging loved one might determine a visit from her immediate family is relatively safe and worth the limited exposure. But she has less autonomy when living under the rules of a senior living community. And to be fair, the community itself must extrapolate visitation risks exponentially when accounting for hundreds or thousands of combined residents, employees, and guests. Ultimately, families should always ask senior living communities about their specific visitation and quarantine polices prior to making any commitments.
Expanded Home-Based Care
There have been exciting developments in the world of home-based care and technology. And reimbursement for these medical services is also on the rise, thanks to changes in Medicare and insurance guidelines. COVID-19 has certainly accelerated the move toward home-based care, but the trend began years ago in an effort to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospitalizations.
For families and seniors, the ultimate result is an increasing ability to “age in place” (remain at home instead of staying in an assisted living facility). Many tasks that previously required communal living, such as nurse visits and the checking of vital signs, can be done in the comfort of a living room through “telehealth” technology and “virtual care.” And while most home care agencies in Santa Monica and adjacent communities only provide “non-medical” caregivers, BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey also offers supplemental nursing care through a team of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).
Uncertain Future
Another lesson learned from COVID-19’s aggressive resurgence is that a pandemic’s future is always uncertain. Many Americans probably remember when some experts predicted the virus would die off with the summer heat. Of course, that never happened. And now, others are speculating on vaccines, treatments, and other developments that will finally relegate today’s pandemic to the pages of history.
Unfortunately, we probably still don’t know where COVID-19 is headed in the days to come. Families and seniors considering their long-term living arrangements are therefore wise to plan for months and years rather than weeks. Anyone who moves into a senior living community now may well face limited guest/family visits and greater exposure to the virus for quite some time. Conversely, seniors who plan to wait until the very last minute to move into assisted living may find they missed their opportunity by remaining at home too long. What if a bad COVID-19 outbreak limits apartment availability and move-in options altogether?
Final Considerations
When it’s all said and done, families should always weigh their specific situations and priorities when deciding on senior living options in Santa Monica, Marina del Rey and nearby communities. Even in the age of COVID-19, some will find assisted living facilities a viable solution. These folks may require the peace of mind and security that comes with 24/7 staff, high levels of supervision, and onsite conveniences. And others may identify a specific community that fits well within budget perimeters.
But there’s also no way to sugar-coat COVID-19’s impact on senior living nearly a year into the pandemic. And many families worry about the physical and emotional consequences of living in higher-exposure environments with strict, albeit understandable, visitation guidelines. Ultimately, realists who entertain each option through the lens of objectivity are most capable of assessing the tradeoffs.
If you’re looking for information on how caregiver services can help a family member safely “age in place” at home be sure to call BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing!
Safety is of first importance for most people, but families are increasingly concerned about the emotional and psychological effects of social isolation too. Here are reasons Americans should reconsider senior living options, using the previous COVID-19 spike and related consequences as points of reference.
Senior Communities & Outbreaks
As in the early days of the pandemic, COVID-19 outbreaks are being reported among senior living communities and assisted living facilities. While progress was made during the summer months, the virus ferociously returned, and communal living environments are once again at higher risk. Most have taken great measures to mitigate the dangers, which is to be commended. But experts agree communal living is always challenging when battling virus outbreaks.
Pointing out such risks would be counterproductive if there weren’t alternatives. But families and seniors should know there are, in fact, options. A full-service home care agency, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, has all the necessary staff and resources to keep most aging folks safely at home and living a great quality of life. Caregiver companies can provide necessary help with showers, personal hygiene, mobility assistance, and general supervision. Their aides also serve as cooks, companions, and personal assistants.
Social Isolation & Quarantines
As stated, many senior living communities have worked hard to implement new polices that both reduce the spread of COVID-19 and address issues of isolation that result from necessary social-distancing policies. However, common sense and experience to date seem to suggest the underlying challenge is communal living itself. The model’s inherent risks during pandemic conditions leave few options that don’t affect guest/family visitation in one way or another. And quarantine protocols for new residents and those exposed to COVID-19 can further inhibit quality of life for some seniors.
While experts also recommend seniors socially distance in their own homes by limiting unnecessary interactions, risk is a game of numbers. And an aging loved one might determine a visit from her immediate family is relatively safe and worth the limited exposure. But she has less autonomy when living under the rules of a senior living community. And to be fair, the community itself must extrapolate visitation risks exponentially when accounting for hundreds or thousands of combined residents, employees, and guests. Ultimately, families should always ask senior living communities about their specific visitation and quarantine polices prior to making any commitments.
Expanded Home-Based Care
There have been exciting developments in the world of home-based care and technology. And reimbursement for these medical services is also on the rise, thanks to changes in Medicare and insurance guidelines. COVID-19 has certainly accelerated the move toward home-based care, but the trend began years ago in an effort to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospitalizations.
For families and seniors, the ultimate result is an increasing ability to “age in place” (remain at home instead of staying in an assisted living facility). Many tasks that previously required communal living, such as nurse visits and the checking of vital signs, can be done in the comfort of a living room through “telehealth” technology and “virtual care.” And while most home care agencies in Santa Monica and adjacent communities only provide “non-medical” caregivers, BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey also offers supplemental nursing care through a team of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).
Uncertain Future
Another lesson learned from COVID-19’s aggressive resurgence is that a pandemic’s future is always uncertain. Many Americans probably remember when some experts predicted the virus would die off with the summer heat. Of course, that never happened. And now, others are speculating on vaccines, treatments, and other developments that will finally relegate today’s pandemic to the pages of history.
Unfortunately, we probably still don’t know where COVID-19 is headed in the days to come. Families and seniors considering their long-term living arrangements are therefore wise to plan for months and years rather than weeks. Anyone who moves into a senior living community now may well face limited guest/family visits and greater exposure to the virus for quite some time. Conversely, seniors who plan to wait until the very last minute to move into assisted living may find they missed their opportunity by remaining at home too long. What if a bad COVID-19 outbreak limits apartment availability and move-in options altogether?
Final Considerations
When it’s all said and done, families should always weigh their specific situations and priorities when deciding on senior living options in Santa Monica, Marina del Rey and nearby communities. Even in the age of COVID-19, some will find assisted living facilities a viable solution. These folks may require the peace of mind and security that comes with 24/7 staff, high levels of supervision, and onsite conveniences. And others may identify a specific community that fits well within budget perimeters.
But there’s also no way to sugar-coat COVID-19’s impact on senior living nearly a year into the pandemic. And many families worry about the physical and emotional consequences of living in higher-exposure environments with strict, albeit understandable, visitation guidelines. Ultimately, realists who entertain each option through the lens of objectivity are most capable of assessing the tradeoffs.
If you’re looking for information on how caregiver services can help a family member safely “age in place” at home be sure to call BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing!