For some, leaving home and starting a life in a nursing home is a daunting choice.
When an individual is unable to live independently and requires assistance to get around, living in a nursing home can come as a recommendation from the doctor.
But what if you don’t want to move into a nursing home, yet your doctor insists that you do so?
Does the doctor’s recommendation hold enough weight to force you into a nursing home? Dive in to find out.
Can a Doctor Force You Into a Nursing Home? (Quick Answer)
The decision to move to a nursing home ultimately falls on an individual. Therefore, a doctor cannot decide to put you in a nursing home. However, the doctor can recommend a nursing home admission if the patient needs professional care.
Role of a Doctor
Although the doctor does not have the final authority to put you in a nursing home, they do have a significant role during nursing home admissions. Such roles include:
Prior Medical Assessment
Before an individual is admitted to a nursing home, they require a medical assessment. The doctor conducts a medical evaluation and writes a report for the nursing home. The assessment involves reviewing medical history, conducting physical examinations, and doing tests.
Giving Prescriptions
During the nursing home admission, the doctor recommends treatments, therapies, and medical assistance for the patient. In addition, the doctor gives the prescription for the continuation of ongoing medication.
Monitoring
Even after you get admitted to the nursing home, the doctor needs to do follow-ups on treatment progress. Also, the doctor may change treatment methods based on progress.
Coordinating with Nursing Home Staff
The doctor coordinates with other professionals such as therapists, social workers, caregivers, and nutritionists to ensure that the patient gets quality care in the nursing home. In addition, the nursing home doctor needs to be in communication with the former doctors in case of medical inquiries.
Reasons Why a Doctor Can Recommend Nursing Home Care
If your doctor has recommended nursing home care for you or your loved one, below are some of the reasons:
Medical Needs
If your loved one requires medical care round the clock, the doctor may recommend nursing home care. Nursing home professionals give residents 24-hour care.
In addition, nursing homes have IV medication, catheter care, respiration therapy, wound care, and regular injections.
If you or your loved one has a condition that needs such care for a long time, doctors recommend nursing home care.
Safety
Patients who are at risk of falling, wandering, or injuring themselves may benefit from the constant supervision and safety measures available in a nursing home. Patients with frequent fall accidents must get nursing home care for close monitoring.
Medical Rehabilitation
If you or your loved one is recovering from surgery or an illness the doctor may recommend a nursing home for rehabilitation services such as physical therapy.
Family Stress
Family members who are providing care for their loved ones may become overwhelmed or unable to provide the level of care that their loved one requires. In such cases, the doctor recommends a nursing home.
Severe Dementia
Dementia can be quite challenging to manage and when symptoms get worse, the patient requires consistent monitoring. Dementia patients can be a harm to themselves and people around them and they need someone to be with them all the time. The doctor may recommend nursing home care for severe dementia.
Benefits of Living In a Nursing Home
While living in a nursing home is a daunting decision and comes with emotional heaviness, it also comes with many benefits including:
Guaranteed Safety
Seniors with dementia tend to wander and this poses security risks. In addition, seniors are vulnerable to fraud skims and financial scams. Nursing homes offer security for seniors as they have 24-hour care.
Health Care
Those who need health care round the clock benefit most from nursing homes. In addition, advanced healthcare is possible in nursing homes.
Care Giving Relief
Most of the time, the stress of caregiving falls on relatives, and sometimes this might become a burden. Nursing home relieves the stress of caregiving by providing the needed care to seniors.
Social Connections
Sometimes, seniors get lonely and this has an impact on their overall health. Nursing offers an opportunity for seniors to engage socially and make friends.
FAQs
When should you put a loved one in a nursing home?
When someone has medical needs that compel them to require care around the clock, you can put them in a nursing home.
How long is end-of-life care?
End-of-life care can go on for a few days, weeks, or months. Some people even live for years during end-of-life care.