“Most families go through a sequence: occasional help, then regular home care, then a higher level of care,” Fosco said. “Such a deliberate sequence is different from responding to any new crisis.” If possible, look for a facility before it is needed so that the process is less stressful.
- Medicare’s “Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home” is a good starting point with practical information about what to look for in a long-term care facility.
- Find one Dementia Care Program through this searchable database of verified programs.
- Medicare’s Care Compare: Recommended by Fosco for “Quality Ratings of Nursing Homes, Home Health Services, and Hospice Providers.”
- Find local services is a government website with numerous links and resources to help find facilities and compare costs.
“Many caregivers are unaware that support may be available to them, in part because every care situation is different and it is not always clear what type of help is needed or where to find it,” Minnick said. If you’re not sure what’s possible, reach out to one of the resources above and ask. There may be more help than you think, both for your loved one and for you as a caregiver.