How to Evaluate Housing Options for Your Aging Loved One

As your loved ones age, it is sometimes necessary to consider other options than living alone or in the family home. They can resist the idea of moving and stop being independent, but in the long run, only they can make that decision. Fortunately, there are many options. Help them understand each one. In this article, Mark Berger Chicago, owner of Villa Heathcare, shares his tips for you to make the best possible decision.

Living with the family: Moving with family members, whether in their home or in an adjoining apartment or independently located on the same land, may be a good option for some older adults. Some families choose to do the opposite; the caregiver (and in some cases, their families) moves into the loved one's home to provide care.

Sharing a home: Another option for older adults is to share a house or apartment. Generally, they will have separate bedrooms (and possibly their own bathroom), but they share the kitchen and other living areas; they also share household chores. Sometimes older homeowners who prefer not to live alone or who need income, rent rooms to other older adults. Also, the owner may decide to share the home in exchange for help with cooking, cleaning, and other chores. Some community or religious groups subsidize large homes shared by multiple people.

The Growing Need for Health Care for the Elderly

Providing long-term care for an increasing number of elderly, in conditions of increased life expectancy, not only in good health but also in people with disability, is certainly one of the issues our country will have to deal with in the context of an increasingly aging population and changed family models.

American lifespans have increased exponentially over the past century, and with people living longer lives and elderly populations growing at a more rapid pace, finding ways to provide quality healthcare for these individuals is going to become all the more important. According to healthcare executive and nursing home manager Mark Berger Chicago, founder and CEO of Villa Healthcare, a premier provider of high caliber rehabilitation nursing care, the healthcare industry is going to have to make a number of changes in order to care for the growing number of elderly patients.

Like many other countries, the US has faced serious demographic problems and challenges in recent decades. Declining populations, a continuing drop in fertility and an increasingly pronounced aging are the main demographic features in the early 21st century.

The negative consequences of such demographic trends are primarily expressed in the area of ​​population aging, which has reached a worrying scale. The aging process is first and foremost due to the low birth rate, which has been below the level required for simple population recovery since the mid-20th century.

Extending the median life expectancy has also affected the aging process, but to a lesser extent in developed countries. In particular, it should be noted that the increase of life expectancy in the past is more owed to the reduction of infant mortality than the extension of life expectancy of the elderly. Migration, mainly emigration, has also contributed less to aging. Population projections warn that the aging process will not only continue but will intensify as well as the aging population.

Long-term care service at Villa Healthcare is intended for seniors who are experiencing growing addiction to other people's care and assistance in daily life. Care at Villa Healthcare, managed by Mark Berger Chicago, is based on a professional and warm approach that gives customers the pleasure of a fulfilled life. Individualized care plans are tailored to meet the specific needs of the users, with the support of experienced and highly-skilled teams.

Finally, a warm and sociable atmosphere fosters friendly relations between users and significantly improves their quality of life. To learn more about the essential aspects of living in such facility, visit Mark Berger Chicago blog or contact him directly and request a free consultation regarding permanent placement.

When it is Time to Decide on Skilled Nursing Care?

With an aging loved one, it can be difficult to decide on specialized care. However, often times it is more beneficial for both the caregiver and loved one to consider an array of senior care options. Nursing homes offer a wide range of senior care options including social interaction, professional medical care, personal care, and round the clock supervision. Here, Mark Berger Chicago, founder of the Illinois based healthcare company Villa Healthcare, offers some guidance on how to start the process, and help them get appropriate care.

Post-Acute Rehabilitation

If you have been hospitalized for an injury, surgery or illness, you’ll likely need follow-up therapy to help you recover. Post-acute rehabilitation services are a critical step in the process of transitioning from the hospital to home as safely as possible. Post-acute rehabilitation, also known as rehab therapy, inpatient therapy or transitional care — is a type of care you receive following a hospitalization. Mark Berger Chicago, Chief Executive Officer at Villa Healthcare has a long history of successfully creating a safe environment for patients where they can receive post-acute care with a 24-hour skilled nursing care, while they recover in a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, working towards their goals. And best of all, the rehab therapy team tailors their services to the patients’ individual needs, helping them recover as quickly and safely as possible.

Why Seniors Need to Exercise

Exercise is essential for a healthy body and mind. However, exercise for seniors can often be a challenge, especially when mobility is an issue. There are many reasons why we tend to slow down and become more sedentary with age. It may be due to health problems, weight or pain issues, or worries about falling. Or perhaps you think that exercising simply isn’t for you. But that doesn’t mean that exercise is any less important. According to Mark Berger, Chicago based healthcare executive, the key is staying active and moving the body in any way possible.

Post-Acute and Long-Term Care

When a person is discharged from the hospital following an illness or injury, although the patient is no longer in need of hospital services, they do still require medical care. Under the leadership of Mark Berger Chicago, Villa Healthcare, a leading provider of post-hospital care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and long-term care services, offers post-acute care services to bridge the gap between hospital and home.

Villa Healthcare owns and manages twenty-two Short Term Rehabilitation and Nursing Centers throughout the Midwest. Mark Berger Chicago has decades of experience in nursing facility ownership and management. His company goes beyond simply providing resident-focused care, and its goal is “to make people better” - staff and residents, and to improve their lives.