Putting a parent or other elderly person into a home when the time comes can be the cause of huge amounts of guilt. This guilt is often exacerbated by myths spread by those who like to sensationalise the occasional times that things go wrong in care homes. Let’s take a look at eight nursing home myths, and see just how much truth lies within them.
‘Tucked Away for Convenience’
One of the most egregious myths is the idea that elderly relatives are ‘dumped’ in care homes because the younger relatives don’t care for them and don’t want to spend any time with them.
This is very far from the truth: many people find care homes for their relatives precisely because they do care for them and want to ensure that their relatives are safe, well-fed and have round-the-clock access to assistance when they need it.
Elderly People Decline in Care Homes
Again, this is untrue but the myth is pernicious because of circumstances. An elderly person who is beginning to find their cognitive function slipping goes into a home to ensure their own safety and comfort.
This cognitive decline continues – as it would in any circumstance, potentially disastrously if they were still in their own home, alone – and when relatives come to visit, they are horrified at the ‘sudden’ decline in their relative, blaming the care home, rather than railing at nature and time, which are the actual causes. Many elderly people, whose cognitive functions are just fine, remain that way, thoroughly enjoying having their meals prepared for them and being able to socialise with the other residents.
Most nursing homes offer enrichment activities to keep minds sharp and bodies moving so some elderly residents may actually benefit from a second lease of life at their care home: check out Minehead care homes here.
Care Homes are Expensive
Care in the UK can be expensive, shockingly so for an elderly person who perhaps bought their small house cheaply thirty or forty years ago, only to find that it is now valued at a million pounds and thus making them liable to pay for their own nursing care, rather than relying on the government as a low-income pensioner might expect. But, firstly, when all the expenses are added up, the nursing homes’ costs seem reasonable, when rent, food, utilities and medical assistance on call is all taken into account. Secondly, no one is expected to sell their home to fund their care, especially if partners or spouses are still living in the home – no one is made homeless to ensure care home fees are paid: there are various agreements that can be put into place to make the best possible plan for each individual case.
What about Elder Abuse?
Whenever an instance of this horrific happenstance occurs, it is almost always national news. This is because it is extremely rare and there are systems and processes in place to prevent it happening.
Residents Lose their Independence
There is something of an unspoken assumption that once a resident has a care home place, they will never leave it, instead living their lives our according to the demands of the care home staff. This is not true at all: residents are welcome to be taken out for day trips and short holidays, and in the meantime, they regain a lot of their independence: they do not have to rely on the voluntary assistance of younger family members. Instead, they pay for a service – and this helps restore their sense of being in control of their own lives, even if they do need a lot of help with their poor health.
All Care Homes Are Pretty Much the Same
If you have only looked at one care home and decided not to persist, this can be an error. Each home has a different ethos and staff as well as being in unique premises. If your elderly relative didn’t like the urban, trendy care home, perhaps they will prefer a quieter ‘country-house’ style care home instead, where there are gardens for strolling or sitting in and birds to feed? Try to look at several homes before committing to one – and make sure the future resident likes it!
There’s No Difference Between A Care Home, Nursing Home or Residential Home
This is a common myth, and one that is easily debunked. Each of these homes are different and cater to different demographics.
A residential home is where relatively healthy elderly people move to when their own household becomes too much to manage. They may have mild ailments, but they can largely take care of themselves and communicate their needs well.
Nursing homes are where patients go from hospital to recuperate until they are well enough to return to their residential home or, indeed, to their home. Nursing home patients can be any age, and are usually recovering from medical issues, although there can be full time residents there too.
Care homes, especially dementia care homes, are more personally involved with their residents, helping them to get dressed and toileting, if necessary, ensuring medication is dispensed, and helping with more hands-on activities, like dressing and hair brushing as well as provision of wheelchairs to help those who are less ambulatory than others. Don’t worry about choosing the wrong home: discussing your elderly relative’s needs with the home will allow them to point you in the right direction.
Residents Lose All Their Autonomy in Care Homes
Again, this is a myth with a tiny partial truth rooted in it: patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s do lose their autonomy and tend to be kept in closed wards. This is for their own safety as dementia patients can slip in time and try to walk to long-ago homes or to visit friends who have long since moved.
Residents who can get about and have all their faculties about them are free to come and go as they please, enjoying shopping trips, hobbies and sports as they like.
Now you understand the truth behind these myths and – hopefully – feel better about finding a care home for your elderly loved one, you know what you do not need to worry about!
