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How safe are Nursing facilities and personal residence for people with Alzheimer's?

If you’re in this situation, you already know there is no easy solution. The majority of senior citizens have unique medical and/or emotional problems. Money and time are the main points in determining the type of care that will be provided. According to the New York Times article “Deciding on Care for Elderly Parents in Declining Health” there are questions that need to be answered. It is important to have in mind if the home is still safe.  If your parent is living at home, he or she probably wants to stay there. If that’s the case, you will to need to hire an a home health aide and/or personal care attendant.  Another option would be assisted living.  Even if parents (Alzheimer’s patients) insist on remaining in the home, doing so may not be in their best interests. A parent in failing health or somehow impaired is not the only one in jeopardy; other family members may be under a lot of stress, too. It can also be lonely and isolating for a parent to stay at home alone (Alderman). According to the “Alzheimer’s Association Campaign for Quality Residential Care” and the ‘American Health Assistance Foundation” the care of Alzheimer’s patients, such as those in nursing facilities or those living in their personal residences, really depends on two specific areas - food and safety. To ensure good care in nursing homes, the Alzheimer’s Association encourages nursing homes to implement some strategies pertaining to quality of care.  These might include having staff members work directly addressing the patient’s needs and offering extra training or education to all levels of care staff. In a personal residence, it is important to have extra safety precautions in place as some Alzheimer’s patient do not have professional care. Some of these should include having emergency phone numbers easily accessible, locks on windows and doors, smoke detectors, and safety devices such as handrails and grab bars.  Also important would be the elimination of toxic substances in the residence and a safe place for medications.