Despite the psychological advantage, a home may not always
be the best place for those receiving care or for the caregiver. Surprisingly,
it is becoming more common for people needing care or anticipating care to seek
out other living arrangements in preference to the home. The reasons for
preferring another living arrangement may be varied but are usually based on
issues such as lack of transportation, lack of security in the neighborhood, desire
to avoid maintenance and yard upkeep, the need to cash out of a home to provide
funds for care or the desire to associate with other elders.
Many care recipients may have a fear of leaving their homes,
this is called agoraphobia. Agoraphobia affects about 30% of all elderly care
recipients. The fear may prevent a person from getting better care and more
mental stimulation in another environment. It may even require some counseling
from a professional to persuade a person to leave the home.
In many cases the
family may force this decision upon their loved one resulting in damaged
relationships and psychological injury to the loved one. In an attempt to
expedite the move -- due to limited time available from family -- cherished
possessions may be discarded.
A key person in finding other living arrangements is often a
professional care manager. Not only can the care manager help the family and
care recipient understand the issues of a transition but he or she can also
help with the selection of the proper setting. A manager can also make
arrangements for moving the loved one and selected belongings. The cost of
using a care manager is well worth the trade-off of not getting it right.
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