Rest Homes are but one option for some individuals

Rest Homes offer a different kind of care than nursing homes. The process of finding and financing the right care option for those individuals and families who have explored the maze from home care, to congregate care to nursing home care can be difficult and confusing.

There is a difference between nursing and rest homes. Those in a nursing home need frequent hands on care of professionals because of their changing medical condition and/or the physical strength of staff to move from one position or place to another. While those in rest homes require only minimal assistance or reminding to get around. A few examples of the types of residents at a rest home may help to clear the confusion.

Rest homes don’t ‘admit’ a person, they adopt them

The examples of the type of people who find a new home and extended family at a community rest home could go on and on. Every one of the residents has a different story to tell. The caring staff loves each and every one. They are delighted to see and help each person grow and remain independent but will also care for them as their needs change.

In Their Own Words

Sally

Sally is a 92 year old widow who lived alone in a large home far from family. She no longer could drive, shop, cook meals or do her laundry. She was just plain “tired.” For a while she had a homemaker help out, home delivered meals and a visits from a volunteer. This was not enough. Sally was still as “sharp as a tack.” She didn’t need a nursing home, but she wasn’t independent enough to live in congregate housing. At the rest home not only were all of her needs met but she found some delightful other benefits. She met new friends with which she could share her life’s experiences. A variety of activities and outings filled her day, instead of worrying about how she was going to prepare her next meal. She had the energy to enjoy life again!

Mary

Mary was depressed and had early Alzheimer’s disease. Her sadness and confusion became too much for her daughter with young children to manage. At first, adult day care was successfully tried. This allowed her daughter a chance to work part time and enjoy some hobbies. But, when the family drove the northern Canada for their 10 day annual vacation, a trip too long for Mary, the family found “respite care” at a rest home. Mary’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed and she was up most of the night wandering about the house. Many sleepless nights became increasing stressful for the entire family. The community rest home became Mary’s new home. The home’s psychiatrist visited Mary weekly to help her cope with her depression. Now family visits and outings are enjoyable and she proudly shows off her third brightly crocheted blanket!

Peter

Peter, in his late 80’s, had diabetes as well as a heart condition. Since his wife died, he no longer had someone to make sure he ate the proper diet or take his many pills on time. Although the daily short walk to the fast food restaurant did have its benefits, certainly the high salt, sugar and cholesterol foods did neither his diabetic nor heart condition any good. At the rest home the trained professional staff gave him his medications. The staff was skilled in observing for side effects and able to contact his doctor for blood tests and a needed change in medication. Daily he got out and walked, but not to a fast food restaurant, but with one of the home’s pets. The home cooked meals, which literally go from the stove to the table, were low in salt and had no sugar. Just what the doctor ordered!

George

George was an 81 year old bachelor and retired shoe maker. Arthritis of his hands and failing eye sight made it impossible for him to live alone in his small apartment. He had a small savings account. He, with the help of friends looked at many rest homes. He found some only accepted private paying residents. His small savings would pay for his care for a few years, but after that, the search for a new home would have to begin again. At the local rest home, a daily rate of about 1/2 that of a nursing home, he found that they would help him with the Medicaid application and continue to care for him even after his private funds were depleted. George had found a new home!