Does anyone here have their spouse in a Residential Care facility (private home)? When the social worker was here yesterday she brought me information on various Residential Care facilities. She suggested that I might want to consider one of the Residential Care facilities since he is so mobile verses an ALF.
I know nothing about this type of facility, but she gave me a person to contact who will help me find a few places to take a look at. This would a licensed facility.
I know these places exist. In fact when we moved into our present condo, 11 yrs. ago, I would drive by a lovely ranch home with a sign in front that read, "Assisted Living Facility." Didn't mean anything to me then. I have become friends with a woman at church. In January she told me she placed her dh in that very home. Showed me pictures and it was just lovely, less expensive than the large facility. Only 6 residents and all suffer from dementia. She is very happy with the level of care he is getting.
I have been thinking of sending a couple of my kids over there to look it over when they come to visit in August. Kids are quite removed from this disease. They don't see their father on a monthly basis.
I think it is an excellent idea to make yourself knowledgeable as to what exists in your area.
DH is still at home but I would consider a residential care facility if the care was good and they could keep DH safe. I know one of members was considering a new residential care facility for her husband but unfortunately he passed away before it opened. Let us know what you think if you visit it.
My husband spent about three years in an RCF before he became bedridden and I brought him back home. It was a beautiful home like setting....every resident had their own room and bathroom and it fit my husband's needs for quite a while. The facility was willing to keep my husband when he became bedridden, but the licensing did not permit that. My other option was a skilled facility but I found that I could do the inhome care. Of course, those rules were here in Missouri and licensing might be different in other areas.
I was quite happy with the placement.....not institutional at all and for his age at the time 56...it fit our needs. There was a keypad on all the doors for safety and with only six residents, it was easy to keep track of them.
Timely that you brought this subject up now. I have mentioned that Sid's Alzheimer group goes on day trips every month or two. The man who takes them owns a home for disabled adults. He recently became certified in Alzheimer's Disease, and opened a home for Alzheimer patients. He is licensed for 5 patients. I have not yet seen the home, but I have been told it is beautiful, and I know how dedicated he is and how well he takes care of the residents in the disabled adult home.
I like the idea of a small home vs. big facility, and in this case, I know the owner very well. I am planning on sending Sid there for respite for a week in November.
Unfortunately, I cannot put Sid in respite or even permanent care in the Dementia Unit in the ALF next door to me, because they have no provisions for diabetics.
One thing to consider--if the patient likes to pace--the good dementia facilities are designed with long, open areas designed for that activity. At my husband's ALF, there are views of the outdoors from wherever you are and a railing all the way around. He and other residents spend much of their days walking and I now realize that this has contributed to his successful adjustment, because it's much more conducive to pacing than our home was. I would think that any small home that has been converted into a group facility would not have the type of space to walk, all on one level, with no steps. Of course if pacing isn't present, then this doesn't factor into the equation.
These are homes built specifically for AD patients. Lots of space for pacing....a huge sun room with access to a yard and a garden spot. If anyone wants to look at the website, you can Google Dolan homes in St. Louis, Mo. They are the example for these types of facilities in our area.
These homes do not accept patients with mobility issues? DH is not bedridden, but he can only transfer from bed to wheelchair, etc. It probably would not be a good fit for him, but they sound lovely.
I agree w/Marilyn...and for other reasons as well...and I'll admit my experience may be unique. The RCF sites I checked out, for the most part, did not meet my requirements for a trained clinical staff, physician oversite, resident activity planning, cleanliness and safety. The expense was all private pay but that will vary by state and RCF. The residents appeared to be huddled in a circle most of the time. It made me think of foster care people that are in it for the money..not the vocation of caring.
You are right....the setting is not for everyone. But, when I placed my husband he was young and had no other health issues. I started to say that he needed a place to stay...but that isn't correct. I needed a place for him to be. The ALFs didn't want him...he was too young, aggressive and needed more one on one care. He was not NH material....too healthy. But, I couldn't handle him at home. I was going nuts and I wasn't a good caregiver. I recognized the fact early on......
So, the RCF took him and there were 6 residents....three aides on duty.....it was clean, provided activities, and most importantly had more than one person to insure that he was safe, clean and as content as he could be.
I was happy to have the option and when the time came that he would have had to transition somewhere else, I was able to care for him at home. I am one of those caregivers who found the late stage much easier to cope with than the middle stages.
Tom--it sounds like your experience is illustrative of the ever-present point that no two facilities are the same. There are good and not so good, and all must be thoroughly checked out.
The social worker with hospice gave me the name of a person works to find a residential home for a person with AD. Some of these homes she is very familiar with and has recommended them time and time again. They are licensed by the state for AD people. At this time I plan on using one of these homes for respite care not placement.
She called me yesterday and gave me the name of two places near where I live and I will be checking them out next week when my cleaning/caregiver lady is here. She said she would have other places for me to check out next week too.