Care Options
	Selecting a care option is difficult. Many people are unaware of the variety of senior services available. Learning about different options can help in making better decisions in selecting services. There are several issues to take into account when selecting services for care: needs and abilities; finances; location, and research.

Needs and Abilities:

• What activities of daily living are you or your loved one capable and not capable of doing?
  -capable of moving about independently, with cane or walker, or requires assistance
  - prepares own meals or needs meals prepared
  -independent in bathing and dressing or dependent on others
  -independent in toileting or incontinent
• Mental Standing?
  -memory intact or disoriented to time and place
  
• Medication and Doctor appointments?
  -self management of medications or needs assistance.
  -manages doctor appointments or needs assistance.

Finances:

• Can you pay out of pocket for care?
• Do you have Long Term Care insurance?
• What will Social Security pay for?
• Veterans Health Administration ?
• Will you need Medicaid or Medicare?

Location:

• Is there family within a 25-50 mile radius of a senior loved one? Victor Regnier states in the book, Aging, Autonomy, and Architecture, "Family members should be encouraged to participate in the lives of their parents and grandparents, not only socially but also through techniques such as family-based assessments that involve family members as active partners in the caregiving process."
• Family involvement is crucial at this time.
  -quick response in case of falls
  -support, learn how to help care
  
• The more times family members visit with their loved one in a facility or at home, the better the treatment.

Finally, before making a decision, do research on the facility or option.

• Make a list of all the care options in your area (Use our Care Search)
• Contact the states ombudsmen program for information about each type of care in the area.(For more information check under Resources)
• Contact the State Survey Agency for more information on the facilities (For more information check under Resources)
• Make visits to the facility, announced and unannounced.

Before you make a final commitment to a facility, discuss what you have learned with your doctor and social workers.