Types of Care for the Elderly
Chicago care givers for the elderly, particularly in today's economy, often are surrogates for professionals who provide elderly care: caregivers, companions. When an elderly relative or friend requires additional care to administer basic needs, ideally a live-in care giver for the elderly is the most efficient means of care. This is, however, the most expensive means of elderly care and for many families, cost prohibitive. Some families who wish to keep their elderly family member at home choose visiting nurse or other social services care that is offered on a daily, bi-weekly or weekly basis depending on need. This is less expensive, although it can be difficult to engage for regular care.

Contemporary Facilities for Elderly Care
Most family members dread the idea of nursing home facilities for care of their dependent elderly. But, an appraisal by both the elderly patient, physician and family should be coordinated to assess whether this is an immediate necessity for the most comprehensive care. Generally, the independence and mobility of the elderly patient determines this. If the elderly require only minimal care that includes regular professional medical vigilance, the answer is an assisted living facility. These facilities offer complete nursing and physician availability for emergencies as well as a means of semi-independence for their patients. Many families find this an adequate answer to their elderly care problems particularly if they are employed full-time and don't have elder care leave from their jobs. Look for a facility that allows regular family visits to insure quality care.