Options for placement

Most older people and families are unfamiliar with long-term care options. Many of them, when faced with the prospects of out-of-home placement, need assistance in understanding, accessing, and impacting the long-term care system. This article describes a unique placement service developed by an occupational therapist to assist older persons and families to (1) identify the appropriateness of out-of-home placement, (2) determine the level of care needed, and (3) obtain specific information about long-term care facilities in the community, in order to make informed choices about appropriate sheltered living environments and care facilities.