Care Options for Elders

Demographically, populations in many Western nations are aging, in part because elders are living longer than in past generations. This has led to an examination of the options available to families when an elder is no longer fully able to meet their own needs.

The variety of options has increased, especially in terms of resident focused design rather than staff-focused design (e.g., Eden and Green Home models). Creative options now include remaining in one’s home with assistance, independent living in designated retirement communities, assisted living facilities, nursing care that still allows residents some control over schedules and environment, and acute nursing care. However, availability of care is often limited, especially in public facilities. Private care options are expensive and out of reach for many.

Despite the expense of elder living facilities, pay for staff in these institutions remains low. Cases of abuse and negligence are not the norm, but they are not unusual.

Elder Care in Chile

Like other nations, Chile offers a mix of public and private options for dependent elder care. The government funds some nursing homes, but available spaces meet only a fraction of the need. Though health care in Chile is quite good (ranked by the World Health Organization as 33rd in the world, ahead of the U.S. and in Latin America, second only to Columbia), the responsibility to care for the elderly continues to be left to individual families with little government support. This means that long-term care for most elders takes place at home.