3 Care Options For Elderly Single Kidney Disease Patients
If you are trying to help an elderly, single relative obtain needed help with their daily living and medical needs due to kidney disease, then you need to understand each of the three options that you have to choose from, like home health assistance, assisted living, and skilled nursing facility
Here is some information about each of these options as they pertain to patients with kidney disease:
Home Health Assistance
If your relative is not yet receiving dialysis treatments, then they may be able to live at home with some help from a home health attendant. Home health workers can help with various tasks:
- grocery shopping
- driving to medical appointments
- household cleaning
- meal preparation
In addition, many home health personnel are nurses who are capable of helping with medications, bathing, and toileting needs.
Home health is the least expensive type of care available and is the best option if your relative is still safe living at home a majority of the time without assistance. Many states cover some home health care under their Medicaid plans, and some private insurance will pay for limited home health care as well.
Assisted Living
Assisted living is a wonderful option for kidney patients who require dialysis treatments but who can still safely spend time at home alone without supervision. A shuttle will be available to take your relative to their medical appointments and regular dialysis treatments.
With assisted living, your relative will have their own small apartment space and it will be wired with an emergency call button. There will be someone on site at all times and simply ringing the call button will bring help.
Assisted living arrangements are not covered by medical insurance, Medicaid, nor Medicare. Assisted living is more expensive than home care, but much less expensive than skilled nursing care.
Skilled Nursing Facility
Skilled nursing facilities, sometimes called nursing homes, are the most expensive care option for your relative. Skilled nursing facilities have nurses on site around the clock and are able to assist with all personal and medical care necessary.
If your relative has end-stage renal disease requiring regular dialysis treatments, but they are not able to travel to a local dialysis center three times each week, then they will need to be placed in a skilled nursing facility that can accommodate this need. Most communities have a nursing home that will provide dialysis treatments on site. In this situation, not having to travel to the dialysis center can save a lot of hassle for everyone involved.
Skilled nursing facility care is partially covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Conclusion
Now that you have a better understanding of each health care option for your single relative living with kidney disease, you can better help guide them towards the most appropriate and safe option. If you have additional questions about home health care, assisted living, or skilled nursing facilities, please speak with your physician or local facility. You may need to learn more or ask Florida retirement communities to learn more.
Share