When Private Group Care is Best

When Private Group Care is the Best Choice

Whether to stay home and receive care or go into a Private group care facility, either Assisted Living (AL) or Long-Term Care (LTC), is a choice facing many older adults and their representatives. There are positives and negatives to living in these locations and what is positive for one person may be negative to another. Private locations have slick marketing and purport to offer a comprehensive care solution. Let’s look closer!

• Chef prepared meals are easily one of the top reasons that people consider moving into private care. (We hear mixed feedback from residents, some are unhappy with the quality of the food and the repetition of the meal schedule and a few clients have moved out due to it.)
• Personal Care and Nursing available onsite to some extent. (We are called into private group care homes on a semi-regular basis when they lack consistent nursing on-site or someone in care develops an ulcerated pressure sore - which should not be happening). 
• Peer group socialization may be possible with other residents however due to cognitive impairments once in AL or LTC this opportunity may be quite limited.
• Intergenerational socialization may be possible with the facility employees. (However, the caregivers are there for a groups of residents. Personalization and continuity may be lacking. Caregivers may be rotated through wings or floors it is fair to question how the building handles scheduling)
• Housekeeping provided weekly+
• Predictable routines
• More gilding and artwork on the walls
• Group activities and outings offered onsite

• Escalating cost is the most common barrier to ongoing Private AL and LTC. Costs for escalating care needs in LTC or 'Memory Care' can be 3x the move-in quote.
• Repetition in the meal rotations
• A lengthy list of added charges including things like medication admin, showers, laundry, etc
• Support from a group of rotating caregivers who support you among the dozens of other residents.
• Lack of control over the environment and sensory stimulus.
• Living on the facility set schedule for meals, personal care, housekeeping, laundry, etc
• Potential distance from family and friends
• Infection Prevention in a group setting is more challenging
• Anything the facility is not set up to handle will fall back on the family or local contacts - The solution is often far from comprehensive and private care is then engaged to fill in the gaps when there are no local representatives.
• Small rooms, typically less than 200 square feet
• No pets

• Enjoy the idea of a shared environment and do not like being alone.
• Enjoy steady fixed routines and are not overly concerned with timing and control
• Thrive on the social discussion and gossip in a shared Independent Living residence
• Not fixated on control over their environment and sensory stimuli
• Can afford to pay 12k-15k+ per month in LTC as care needs increase, without concern that they will run out of funds and be displaced.

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