February 19, 2022 is National Caregivers Day, when we honor each remarkable caregiver, whether a family member, friend, volunteer, paid home care worker, or professional in a senior living community.
If you’re a caregiver for someone at home, we applaud you for showing your love in such a tangible way. On challenging days, give yourself grace and remember that teamwork is key.
Be compassionate to yourself and your loved one by planning for the future. As your loved one’s needs increase, you may begin to feel overwhelmed, which can quickly lead to caregiver burnout. Understanding your options for the future – like moving to a community that offers personal care – can help you make plans and feel a sense of peace.
What Is Personal Care?
Personal care is a level of care that continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) offer to residents who need help with some aspects of daily living but don’t require around-the-clock nursing care. When referring to personal care, communities may also use the term assisted living. Personal care or assisted living typically offers:
- Apartment-style homes or shared living spaces with private suites
- Three meals per day
- Medication management
- Access to 24-hour support through emergency call systems and a professional on-site team
- A personalized plan for assistance with specific tasks
- Social, physical, and cognitive enrichment activities
- Housekeeping services
- As much privacy and independence as possible
When Is Personal Care the Most Helpful?
Each individual has different daily living needs during different seasons of life, so caregivers and their loved ones benefit from openly discussing and frequently assessing current and emerging needs. It may be time to apply to live in personal care if you or your loved one desires:
- More services than are currently feasible or available at home or in an independent living community
- Assistance with eating, dressing, using the bathroom, bathing, or walking
- Help with frequent falls or mobility problems, including building strength and confidence
- Medical care due to chronic or worsening health problems
- Help keeping track of or taking medications correctly
- Attention regarding poor eating habits or hygiene problems
- Transportation services due to difficulty driving or inability to drive
- Help keeping the home and property clean and maintained
- Solutions for addressing disorientation, isolation, frequent low moods, or memory challenges
In a very practical sense, the daughter of a Chapel Pointe resident shared her family’s experience of moving Mom to personal care:
Our relationship was fractured from living together, but I am beginning to heal. … Mom is trying so many new things and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. She is getting physically stronger by walking more - which she refused to do at home. She continually tells me how good it feels to be with people her own age.
She repeatedly affirms that nothing she ever asks for is too much trouble for the staff. … She feels cared-for, that people know who she is and call her by name. She has the level of independence she needed, and she has a spiritual community again.
Plan Ahead to Avoid a Medical Emergency
If your loved one shows signs of requiring senior assisted living—or if you simply want the peace of mind that comes with planning for the future—take some time to research local CCRCs and personal care. Doing so as early as possible will reduce stress and help you make a well-researched decision that best meets your needs, budget, and personal preferences. Don’t wait until a medical emergency or caregiver burnout forces you to make a change. We all make our best decisions when we have time and a clear mind.
As you begin your research, include your loved ones in the conversations and plans, consult doctors and financial advisors, and tour the communities that you like the most.
If senior assisted living is already a more urgent need, consider partnering with a respite care facility or home health service until you can make a long-term plan. You can find more caregiver resources here.
Apply for Personal Care at Chapel Pointe
Chapel Pointe is a faith-based continuing care retirement community. We commit each day to serving and enhancing the quality of life for people aged 62+ in Central Pennsylvania. We’re honored that our greater community sees the servant-heart of our nonprofit organization and consistently selects Chapel Pointe as “The Best of Cumberland County.”
Nestled in eight beautifully landscaped acres in Carlisle, PA, our welcoming campus is filled with interesting places to explore and amenities that make life easy and enjoyable. Bird-watch from the gazebo, take a quiet moment in the chapel, curl up with a book in the library, join a friend for games in the sunroom, meet up for lunch in the dining room, take the shuttle for a scenic ride, or just pull up a comfortable chair and chat.
Since the beginning, our team's mission has been to ensure that every resident is treated with love and the utmost respect. Experiencing our core values—trust, integrity, faith, service, and innovation—lived out every day at Chapel Pointe reassures seniors that they are making the right decision by welcoming us into their lives. Contact us to learn more about our community or support our mission by making a donation today!