Seniors may reach a point in their lives when they are no longer able to care for themselves. Due to physical fragility, mental inability, or both, doing everyday things such as clothing, bathing, cooking, or even moving about becomes difficult. In these situations, moving into a professional, well-equipped frail care facility is frequently the greatest option for ensuring the safest possible environment and the highest possible quality of life.

 

What is frail care?

Some people may require acute hospital treatment for a short period of time after a health crisis, such as a stroke or a fall, before returning to their usual daily life. Frail care, on the other hand, is for those who can no longer care for themselves on a daily basis and won’t be able to for the rest of their life. Moving into frail care signals the start of a new chapter in one’s life, one that is both essential and helpful for older individuals who require more assistance.

Growing older is tied to the need for frail care. As a result, being well-prepared may make a significant difference in how we handle a crisis. People frequently believe that if they plan to move into a retirement home, they have also planned for frail care. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case and is dependent on the specific retirement community.

 

Levels of frail care

Acute care: When a patient needs immediate medical attention, acute care is generally necessary for a brief amount of time. 

Primary care: Patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma need ongoing medical care in primary care. 

Palliative care: Palliative care focuses on lessening the intensity of a disease’s symptoms rather than curing it. Cancer, kidney illness, and chronic heart failure may necessitate palliative care, which focuses on reducing suffering via pain management. Palliative care also offers the patient and his or her family some quality of life as well as support.

Under the overall direction of a doctor or care manager, a nurse or support staff member offers basic support such as feeding, washing, and personal hygiene. A care provider may also undertake more complex tasks such as drug administration and recording, temperature and blood pressure monitoring and recording, wound care, and dressing changes. Catheters, IVs, injections, and other sophisticated responsibilities would be required. Wages are determined by the caregiver’s qualifications and experience, the amount of expertise necessary, and the needs of the scenario.

 

Choosing a specialised frail care facility

While frail care facilities are designed to meet the requirements of the elderly, the quality of care, services, and amenities vary greatly from one location to the next. Some retirement communities may include basic services such as caretakers who may assist with personal hygiene, cooking, housekeeping, and medication administration. Another frail care facility could offer on-site theatres for emergency hospital treatment, surgeries, or life support, as well as full-time medical personnel. Others provide a complete variety of services, from independent and assisted living to frail care and dementia-specific institutions.

 

Need a specialised frail care facility in South Africa?

Someone who requires frail care is no longer capable of caring for themselves, therefore having access to a higher degree of care, as well as specialised nutritional needs, three meals per day, and washing and housekeeping services, is a must. While frail care may be a brief stay for some, it may be the start of a new chapter in their lives for others. Livewell’s specialised frail care services offer these individuals with a safe environment and the highest possible quality of life.

Along with our personalised dementia care, Livewell provides specialised frail care. Our residents may benefit from professional health care, healthy meals, and elegant surroundings as part of an all-inclusive package, all while being close to a hospital. Our frail care facility is a specialised ward that ensures loved ones have access to nursing care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from caregivers who have been properly trained to assist those in need. For more information about our frail care services, please contact us.