such. Within an estate the units are usually positioned close to Frail care
the healthcare facilities. These offer the resident a good level Frail care involves a high level of care for people who cannot
of independence, within a contained unit, usually a studio, but fend for themselves. They may need help in dressing, washing,
sometimes bigger. Meals would be provided, but there is also a eating and/or getting about. Frail care facilities involve high
kitchen or kitchenette. As the patient’s condition deteriorates, care and high carer-to-patient ratios, so they are inevitably
the requirements for care become greater, and there expensive. For this reason, they are considered a last resort – a
last step, if you like, on the way to whatever you believe lies
reaches a point where it is no longer cost-
beyond this life. Both because of the expense and the
effective to continue to provide care
terminal nature of frail care, it should be delayed as
in the person’s own home. When
long as possible. Frail care facilities are in some
that happens it may be time to
ways similar to hospices, with some overlap,
move to frail care.
but also some very real differences. Hospices
cater for people of any age who are in the
terminal stages of some disease, while frail
care centres are mostly for people who may
not have a specific fatal disease, but are
becoming more and more frail and sickly
Fairmead Court
merely through ageing.
Convalescence or sub-acute care
Sometimes a person may need high care, for example,
after an accident or surgery, or when they are ill. The
services provided may be identical to frail care, but it is only a
temporary, short-term solution to an acute problem or illness.
Such care may be given in a hospital, but is more commonly
provided in a convalescent home, in the frail care facility of a
retirement home, or even in one’s own home.
Dementia care
While some people may suffer from physical frailty and
dementia simultaneously, they are not the same thing; the
one does not cause the other, and they require very different
management. Some frail care patients may be intellectually
very sharp and alert, but ill, weak and/or frail, while some
dementia patients may be physically very robust. So they have
different needs, and require very different treatment strategies.
For this reason, dementia patients are usually provided for in
separate facilities or separate wings.
Decisions, decisions, decisions
Most of us want to live happy, healthy lives until very shortly
before we die, but it doesn’t always work out that way, so we
need to be sure there is a back-up plan in case we find ourselves
in need of care for an extended period. So, plan for a period of
frailty in the same way you buy insurance – reluctantly but
realistically.
Livewell Bryanston
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