South Bay residents have much to celebrate! The spring season has arrived, and many people are now partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Also, coronavirus cases are down substantially, and businesses are reopening. Quality of life has certainly improved for most.
But with that said, folks in the Beach Cities region and nearby communities have lingering questions. Families with aging loved ones, for example, are re-exploring senior living options. And they must consider whether their aging loved one will be happier in a South Bay assisted living facility or aging-in-place at home with the assistance of a Torrance home care agency.
Here are major considerations for anyone pondering senior living options given new COVID-19 vaccines and a changing landscape.
Celebrate the Progress
The future of the pandemic is still hard to predict, but it’s important for people to celebrate the tremendous progress. Solutions aren’t always 100% perfect, and wars sometimes consist of many battles. However, there’s no doubt the community is faring far better now, and vaccination and infection numbers speak for themselves.
One’s perspective on COVID-19 in spring 2021 is very much a “glass is half full” versus “glass is half empty” scenario. Some people are more cautious about the future, citing evidence of COVID-19 mutations, and questions regarding the vaccines’ long-term efficacy. Others feel things are on the rebound, and the future is bright. Perhaps cautious optimism is the prudent outlook for the time being.
Recognize the Uncertainty
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that the future is uncertain. The virus is often referred to as a “once-in-a-century” event, but that doesn’t mean a similar pandemic cannot occur for another hundred years. And viruses, more generally, are nothing new. Older people and those residing in densely populated communities have always been at elevated risk of communicable disease, including seasonal flu.
For many, COVID-19 doesn’t merely represent a generational struggle like the 1930s Great Depression. Instead, it’s a wake-up call to very real physical dangers that are easy to forget about during uneventful periods. Families and seniors should use their new awareness to determine if the conveniences of community living offset the risks. Some will determine the tradeoff makes sense, but others might instead focus on in-home care options, such as Torrance caregiver services.
Assess Risk Tolerance
Families that recognize the uncertain future of senior living despite COVID-19 vaccines (as addressed in the prior section) should then question their loved ones’ individual risk factors. Was “Mom” among any of the high-risk COVID-19 groups per the CDC and other medical experts? If so, might she also be in greater danger if a COVID-19 mutation or altogether new virus sweeps the nation?
On the other hand, perhaps “Dad” rode out the pandemic with little concern over his health. He socially-distanced and wasn’t reckless but simply didn’t suffer much stress or mental anguish as a result of the pandemic. In fact, his family feels he would have been perfectly content living in a room at a senior community, even with the elevated risk and facility-mandated isolation protocols. Simply put, families and their older loved ones have specific risk factors and risk tolerance thresholds that weigh into senior living decisions.
Identify Individual and Family Priorities
Older adults and their families also have unique priorities. And reconciling these with the realities of life amid COVID-19 is still critical even with new vaccines. For example, most senior living communities limited or eliminated family visits during the height of the pandemic. And even today, facilities may have restrictive policies still in place.
Families and aging loved ones should determine how much value they place on visitation access. They should also consider if restrictive measures, such as use of face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), affects the quality of their meetings. A vaccinated senior who lives in her own home may feel perfectly safe hugging loved ones, ignoring social distancing, and not wearing face masks. But a senior living community’s cautious policy might not provide residents and visitors with the same flexibility.
Remember Senior Living “Basics”
South Bay assisted living facilities and Torrance home care agencies existed decades before the outbreak of COVID-19. And they will continue to serve residents and clients long after the pandemic is over. But certain “basics” of senior living never change. And these considerations help families determine if their loved one is better served by community living or remaining at home with caregiver assistance.
Seniors who value their independence above all else will usually choose “aging-in-place” at home. They don’t adapt well to schedules and limitations that are sometimes unavoidable in assisted living communities. Perhaps “Dad” prefers to have his caregiver cook certain meals that he eats at his convenience versus collective dining during specified timeframes. And maybe “Mom” is introverted and not keen on talking to various neighbors every time she leaves her room.
On the other hand, some older folks are well-served by community living and even enjoy the group aspect of it. They may have significant care needs, cognitive challenges, or perhaps appreciate socializing with neighbors all day. And while home-based caregivers can also address these needs and social desires, families may determine assisted living is a viable option.
Putting it All Together
At the end of the day, most people feel America has turned a corner and is slowly emerging from under the cloud of COVID-19. But regardless of what course the pandemic takes, two realities remain when it comes to senior living options. First, assisted living facilities will always be at higher risk of virus spread when compared to aging-in-place at home. Second, the benefits of senior living communities, such as safety, convenience, and value, often come with a tradeoff in independence.
If you’re seeking Torrance home care services that empower older folks in the South Bay, Palos Verdes, and Beach Cities to “age-in-place” at home, be sure to call BrightStar Care today for a free registered nurse assessment!
But with that said, folks in the Beach Cities region and nearby communities have lingering questions. Families with aging loved ones, for example, are re-exploring senior living options. And they must consider whether their aging loved one will be happier in a South Bay assisted living facility or aging-in-place at home with the assistance of a Torrance home care agency.
Here are major considerations for anyone pondering senior living options given new COVID-19 vaccines and a changing landscape.
Celebrate the Progress
The future of the pandemic is still hard to predict, but it’s important for people to celebrate the tremendous progress. Solutions aren’t always 100% perfect, and wars sometimes consist of many battles. However, there’s no doubt the community is faring far better now, and vaccination and infection numbers speak for themselves.
One’s perspective on COVID-19 in spring 2021 is very much a “glass is half full” versus “glass is half empty” scenario. Some people are more cautious about the future, citing evidence of COVID-19 mutations, and questions regarding the vaccines’ long-term efficacy. Others feel things are on the rebound, and the future is bright. Perhaps cautious optimism is the prudent outlook for the time being.
Recognize the Uncertainty
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that the future is uncertain. The virus is often referred to as a “once-in-a-century” event, but that doesn’t mean a similar pandemic cannot occur for another hundred years. And viruses, more generally, are nothing new. Older people and those residing in densely populated communities have always been at elevated risk of communicable disease, including seasonal flu.
For many, COVID-19 doesn’t merely represent a generational struggle like the 1930s Great Depression. Instead, it’s a wake-up call to very real physical dangers that are easy to forget about during uneventful periods. Families and seniors should use their new awareness to determine if the conveniences of community living offset the risks. Some will determine the tradeoff makes sense, but others might instead focus on in-home care options, such as Torrance caregiver services.
Assess Risk Tolerance
Families that recognize the uncertain future of senior living despite COVID-19 vaccines (as addressed in the prior section) should then question their loved ones’ individual risk factors. Was “Mom” among any of the high-risk COVID-19 groups per the CDC and other medical experts? If so, might she also be in greater danger if a COVID-19 mutation or altogether new virus sweeps the nation?
On the other hand, perhaps “Dad” rode out the pandemic with little concern over his health. He socially-distanced and wasn’t reckless but simply didn’t suffer much stress or mental anguish as a result of the pandemic. In fact, his family feels he would have been perfectly content living in a room at a senior community, even with the elevated risk and facility-mandated isolation protocols. Simply put, families and their older loved ones have specific risk factors and risk tolerance thresholds that weigh into senior living decisions.
Identify Individual and Family Priorities
Older adults and their families also have unique priorities. And reconciling these with the realities of life amid COVID-19 is still critical even with new vaccines. For example, most senior living communities limited or eliminated family visits during the height of the pandemic. And even today, facilities may have restrictive policies still in place.
Families and aging loved ones should determine how much value they place on visitation access. They should also consider if restrictive measures, such as use of face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), affects the quality of their meetings. A vaccinated senior who lives in her own home may feel perfectly safe hugging loved ones, ignoring social distancing, and not wearing face masks. But a senior living community’s cautious policy might not provide residents and visitors with the same flexibility.
Remember Senior Living “Basics”
South Bay assisted living facilities and Torrance home care agencies existed decades before the outbreak of COVID-19. And they will continue to serve residents and clients long after the pandemic is over. But certain “basics” of senior living never change. And these considerations help families determine if their loved one is better served by community living or remaining at home with caregiver assistance.
Seniors who value their independence above all else will usually choose “aging-in-place” at home. They don’t adapt well to schedules and limitations that are sometimes unavoidable in assisted living communities. Perhaps “Dad” prefers to have his caregiver cook certain meals that he eats at his convenience versus collective dining during specified timeframes. And maybe “Mom” is introverted and not keen on talking to various neighbors every time she leaves her room.
On the other hand, some older folks are well-served by community living and even enjoy the group aspect of it. They may have significant care needs, cognitive challenges, or perhaps appreciate socializing with neighbors all day. And while home-based caregivers can also address these needs and social desires, families may determine assisted living is a viable option.
Putting it All Together
At the end of the day, most people feel America has turned a corner and is slowly emerging from under the cloud of COVID-19. But regardless of what course the pandemic takes, two realities remain when it comes to senior living options. First, assisted living facilities will always be at higher risk of virus spread when compared to aging-in-place at home. Second, the benefits of senior living communities, such as safety, convenience, and value, often come with a tradeoff in independence.
If you’re seeking Torrance home care services that empower older folks in the South Bay, Palos Verdes, and Beach Cities to “age-in-place” at home, be sure to call BrightStar Care today for a free registered nurse assessment!