Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the thin layer of tissue covering the internal organs, more commonly affecting the lungs and chest wall. The vast majority of cases are caused by asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma can be a complicated condition that often requires additional care, so many patients find themselves needing an assisted living facility. Assisted living is a community that provides a level of care that they wouldn’t receive in an independent community, but less than a nursing service. Asbestos.com has some helpful tips to help people with mesothelioma assess their assisted living options.
MORE: Did you know about the link between mesothelioma and asbestos?
What does assisted living involve?
Assisted living tends to take care of a patients’ housekeeping, cooking and laundry needs and provides extra assistance to those who need it for tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating and going to the toilet.
What services are offered?
Assisted living generally offers three meals a day, housekeeping and laundry services, transportation and social programs. These are typically the basic services included with room and board. The idea is to assist mesothelioma patients in their daily life, since as the disease progresses, they may suffer from shortness of breath which can make daily chores seem overwhelming.
What else does assisted living include?
Aside from basic tasks, assisted living can also provide:
- Help entering and exiting the bathroom or shower
- Help getting dressed
- Help with tasks such as brushing teeth or shaving
- Changing adult briefs
- Escorting patients to different rooms within the facility
- Emptying catheter or ostomy bags
What isn’t included?
It’s important to remember that assisted living is not a nursing home, therefore medical services at these facilities are limited. This can vary from facility to facility. In some, nurses may be able to check vital signs and blood sugar, whereas in others, nurses can only administer medicine.
However, there are some general rules which apply:
- Nurses cannot clean wounds
- Nurses cannot provide breathing therapy
- Nurses cannot administer substances intravenously or provide feed tubing
- Nurses can help with pouring and administering daily medication
- Patients are able to request additional health care from a third party
MORE: Learn more about the treatment of mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Research News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
