Nursing Homes near Venice, FL

Nursing Homes in Venice, Florida

The thought of moving into a nursing home is a touchy subject for some seniors. Most seniors aren't happy with the idea of losing their independence or feeling institutionalized, which is an unfortunate reputation that many nursing homes gained in the past. However, the healthcare industry as a whole has moved to a more patient-oriented care practice, and nursing homes are no different in that regard. Venice, Florida provides aging seniors with several options when the time comes to find a nursing home.

More About Venice, Florida

Venice is well-known for its snowbird population, and it's no wonder since the city sits on the beach with extending waterways running through certain parts of the city. The weather is humid and subtropical, meaning that it has relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. Many seniors living in the north migrate to the area during the winter months to avoid the cold and snow. To keep up with tourists and travelers, the city built up its entertainment, dining, and shopping options over the years. There are several upscale restaurants, as well as family-owned, local restaurants. The city has its own symphony, and several museums, parks, and historical buildings to look at. One of the hotels has a rather large arcade that attracts several gamers from across the country. Another favorite activity for those in Venice is hunting for shark teeth in the ocean. With plenty of activities to keep individual's entertained, Venice is a great place to settle into a nursing home.

Doing What's Best for Your Loved One

Despite your desire to care for a loved one, you have responsibilities, as well. As they age, it becomes harder for you to manage and cope with it all, especially if they get sick. You have to think of what's best for them, and if you can't commit to the level of care they need, then you must consider someone who can. Nursing homes provide aging seniors a social, supportive environment with other individuals in the same situation. It gives seniors a chance to live a higher quality of life by providing activities, social outings, and events to keep seniors active and happy. Your loved one can have a comfortable life while staying at a nursing home, you just have to choose one that fits them best.

Choosing the Right Nursing Home

Your focus should be on finding the right nursing home for your loved one, and making sure you're both comfortable with it. First, decide what you both want in a nursing home. This may include things such as a secured facility, a varied menu that offers high quality food, options for day trips, medical care, evacuation plans in the event of inclement weather, and so on. Next, narrow down your possibilities based on those desired qualities. Once you have a few places picked out, contact them to schedule a tour. Ask questions about the nursing home and its staff, and pay attention to the residents. Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions. It's important to know what the nursing home's policies are, and whether you agree with them. Also, find out if the nursing home encourages and allows its residents the freedom to make certain decisions for themselves. It gives seniors an opportunity to feel they are still in control of their lives, which can go a long way to smooth out the transition.

Paying for Care

When the discussion of moving to a nursing home comes up, one of the most important parts of that discussion should be how the family intends to pay for it. The average cost of nursing homes in the United States is about $50,000 a year. For those families who planned well in advance, they may decide to pay in full from their savings account. However, there are other options for those families who have trouble saving enough money. Rather than relying on personal money, families can look into long-term care insurance and government programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Each state has its own requirements for qualifying for these programs, and not all nursing homes accept them as payment, so you need to be sure you can actually use them before applying. However, if you can use insurance and government programs to pay for nursing home care, it will save you money over the course of your loved one's stay.

Loved ones moving to a nursing home often feel abandoned and unloved. It's important to pick a place close to family, and to visit as much as possible to help them transition to their new lifestyle. It won't take long, provided you've picked the right facility, because they will have a more active social life, and probably spend time enjoying things they'd never done before. Seniors in Venice have a lot of activities and entertainment available to them, and they can see and experience the city in a completely different way than tourists, just by living there.