Sending a parent to a retirement home, sending a parent on a cruise everyday the same price?
Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at
9:04 pm
I forgot where I heard this from but is it true that for the same price of sending a parent to a nursing home and sending a parent on a cruise are the same price is that true(my question mark button is broken, sorry)
Filed under: Retirement Communities
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this all depends on the destinations, as all have different prices
The price of a cruise varies a lot, depending on destinations, cruise company, accommodations, etc…Nursing homes and cruises may be similar in price, but they have completely different functions, licenses and certifications of personnel.
I doubt a cruise ship would take on a liability situation such as a person in need of nursing home care (a specific level of care that needs to be provided by a licensed entity). Chances are, it would not be long before the cruise line kicked the parent out, if indeed, the person needed a more appropriate level of care. They’re simply not equipped to handle the needs of such a person on a regular basis, and it would draw to much time away from the other things staff should be doing. In other words, it might not be cost effective for the ship to keep such a passenger for any significant length of time.
Who will help with medications? Who will help the parent ambulate around the ship? Who will help the parent in and out of bed, if necessary? Who will bring meals when the parent is not feeling up to the trek to the dining room? Who will help with bathing? Who will come to the rescue when the parent falls or otherwise needs care asap? How will the parent get to the doctor for regular checkups and appointments? The ship doc isn’t for that. What about a pharmacy, what about her personal care items?
If she doesn’t need help with any of the issues above, then she doesn’t need to be in a nursing home to begin with.
What about personal space (a motel like room is not personal space), what about social groups and friendships (not people the parent will never see again). How will the parent access their bank?
I’m surprised anyone would think it as a good alternative, especially with all the assaults and thefts that take place on ships. A frail, elderly person would be extremely vulnerable to crime on a cruise ship.
I just learned this also, my friend told me about it he heard it on a podcast I think. He was telling me how it works that if you stay on the same cruise they will replace your bed if it needs it you have laundry done and plenty of activities without having to worry about retirement home workers treating you poorly. I am thinking about doing this, when it comes time.