Home Caregivers For the Elderly in Encinitas Safer Than Nursing Homes

Nursing Home Kidnapping In Home Assistance for Elderly In 4S RanchNursing Homes are Not Necessarily Safer than In Home Assistance for the Elderly in Encinitas

Most people believe that seniors would rather live at home than move into a nursing home.  They believe, and rightly so, that receiving help from in home assistance for the elderly in Encinitas provides a safe, secure environment that is most agreeable to the seniors.

The familiar surroundings, convenience, and connection to neighbors and friends are all far more enjoyable than the upheaval of transferring to the environment of a nursing or retirement facility. But some family members worry that a nursing home is a safer choice than living at home.

Are Nursing Homes Really That Safe?

Consider an incident that happened in Olympia, Washington, a few weeks ago. Without warning, three family members of a nursing home resident showed up, took the elderly lady out the front door, and drove off with her in a car. The nursing facility staff did nothing to stop them.

Only after a harrowing, disturbing saga, the police located the car, pulled it over, arrested the three family members, and returned the lady safely to the nursing facility.

More To the Story

As it turns out, the senior’s daughter had recently moved her mother to live in the nursing facility in Olympia precisely to get her away from the three family members that abducted her. According to her, the three had been financially abusing the lady for some time. This seems plausible, considering the fact that the car the family members drove to Olympia was stolen from a Los Angeles auto dealer!

Alternatives For Caregivers in San Diego County

Of course, in home assistance for the elderly cannot guarantee safety from unfortunate crimes like this one. But the story does go to show that retirement/nursing homes are not fortresses, and they are not always the safest option. Fortunately, these family members were arrested and jailed for their actions, but the trauma to the senior can never be undone.

There are quite a few benefits to hiring in home assistance for the elderly. In San Diego County, doing so allows continuity during a senior’s transitional years. And with family members, neighbors, and friends regularly involved in the senior’s day-to-day life, that special senior may be safer than they would be in a nursing facility with workers that do not know them or their family members well.

Tim Colling
Tim Colling

Tim Colling is the founder and President of A Servant's Heart In-Home Care, which provided in-home caregiving services in San Diego County, and also of A Servant's Heart Geriatric Care Management, which provided
professional geriatric care management services and long term care placement services in San Diego County. Tim has more than 30 years of experience in management in a variety of industries. He held a Certified Care Manager credential from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers. Tim is also a Certified Public Accountant (retired), and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from California State University at San Diego. In addition to writing blog posts here for the Servant’s Heart blog, Tim also is a regular contributor to HealthLine.com and to FamilyAffaires.com as well as blogs of other eldercare services provider companies. Finally, Tim is also the president of A Servant's Heart Web Design and Marketing, which provides home care marketing as well as website design and online marketing for those who serve the elderly and their families.

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