Seniors who need care need help which can be costly. Personal support workers are not government regulated, and they interact with a vulnerable segment of the population. Seniors are vulnerable to greater risk – physical, mental or financial abuse, unreported accidents, theft, neglect, etc. Impaired mobility is a major concern, and they need to be kept mentally and physically active if possible. Community service agencies are available to assist, and the options should be investigated before the need arises.
Some reasons for elderly going into nursing or retirement homes include greater life expectancy for seniors, living alone with no family to look after them or to arrange their care, families moving across the country perhaps for employment opportunities, more women who were formerly the main caregiver working outside the home, or parents moving away during retirement, making long-distance care giving difficult or impossible.
Retirement homes provide 24 hour supervision, socialization, ensure medications are given, and meals eaten. This type of elder care is especially important for seniors living at home who feel isolated, don’t have the energy to make a meal for themselves, and get confused taking multiple medications with differing administration times. Some seniors have memory deficits and don’t remember if or what they have taken, including over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin. Also, some medications must be taken on an empty stomach, some with food, some need to be taken at specific intervals to be effective, so this can be supervised for elderly residents. The provincial government does not regulate nursing homes, and each retirement home operator sets resident fees.