One of the conversations that many families will eventually reach in their life is talking about assisted living for a family member. It’s not always easy to make the decision but it can be the right one in many different circumstances.
If you, someone you know, or a loved one is looking for an assisted living facility, then check out these things to consider as you continue your search.
Look For One That Has Sufficient Care
Even though this one feels like it should be an obvious one, people sometimes overlook this consideration. You might be looking for a place for your parents and not ask questions about the abilities of the facility.
When looking for adequate care, ask the staff how they work with patients who have certain health problems or issues. See what their experience is and how they react with similar cases.
Be Thorough on the Tour
When taking the tour, be sure to have a list of prepared questions about everything you can think of. There is no stupid question here and you’ll be happy you asked all of them.
It’s important to know what kind of situation you’ll be walking your family into and what you can do to prepare them for this step.
Think About the Size
Some centers are huge while others are smaller and more personal. Think about what works best for you or your parents. With the number of senior citizens in assisted living topping one million, options might be limited in your area.
When thinking about the size, think about how this may affect your parent’s ability to sign up for classes, receive timely treatment, or really get involved in the community.
Consider the Culture
The worst nightmare for anyone helping a parent move into assisted living is running into a Ben Stiller-like situation from Happy Gilmore. While certainly overplayed for the silver screen, you still want to find a place with a positive and upbeat culture.
Of course, you may not fully experience the culture unless you’re there, but you still can do plenty of research. Head to the internet, talk to the staff, talk to residents, and see if you can catch other families as their coming and going.
Don’t Move too Fast
It might seem urgent to move your loved one into an assisted living facility and looking for a facility may feel overwhelming at first. By the end, you’re ready to simply say “yes” to the next one that pops up.
Take the time to visit each community and talk with your loved one about which one is best for them. Remember, they’re going to be the ones living here for the foreseeable future and it should take some time to find the perfect one.
Think About the Future
It’s great to find a place that is perfect for the now, but what would happen if your loved one’s health began to deteriorate over time? Is the facility prepared to help with moving to higher care or recommending a separate facility?
Assisted living isn’t going to be the “forever” answer and facilities are part of a larger network that are able to move people between different levels of care. So instead of being stuck in the current spot, think about what steps may need to be taken in the future.
Is the Location Favorable
When looking for a facility, you don’t want one that is going to be on the other side of town, separating you both. It’s best to look for one that is easily accessible and easy to drive to.
However, that often isn’t possible as some states have restrictions on how much medical assistance can be given to residents. If you know your parent or loved one is going to need more assistance than the state can offer, it might be worth looking into what other facilities may work.
Using an Adviser
With such an important decision and idea such as this one, you don’t have to go it alone with looked for an assisted living facility.
Check in your area to see if there is a senior living adviser who can help you narrow down your choices and find the most ideal place for your family member. It can take away the initial stress and give a calming, third-party voice to any decisions that may come up.
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