Choosing an assisted living facility for a senior loved one is never easy, but there are a few tips you can follow to make this task a little less stressful.
Here are five tips to help choose the right assisted living facility for your loved one:
- Know the right questions to ask. The exact needs of the senior in your life will help dictate the right questions to ask. Here are a few to keep in mind:
– Do the units have kitchens or kitchenettes?
– What is the size of the available units?
– Are rooms and/or bathrooms private?
– Are there additional services available if a resident’s needs change? - Visit a few times. Plan to visit during mealtime at least once, so you’ll get a better sense of the interaction between staff and residents. If possible, have lunch with residents.
- Look for good layout and cleanliness. As you get to know the facility, look out for the following:
– An emergency generator or another source of power
– An easy-to-follow floor plan
– Call buttons and handrails in rooms and bathrooms
– Exits that are well-marked
– Safety locks on doors and windows
– Well-lit hallways and stairs - Pay attention to what day-to-day living may be like for your loved one. Is the daily routine at the assisted living place the right match for your senior loved one? For instance, if your loved one likes to stay socially active, are there daily activities to enjoy with others? Check out the calendar of activities. Does your loved one have a certain hobby that is best done with others? Find out if the assisted living facility has a group or scheduled time related to the hobby.
- Ask about staffing issues. With so many businesses experiencing staffing shortages, the assisted living facilities that you are evaluating have likely had trouble keeping current staff or finding new staff. Ask what they are doing to address this. No place is perfect, but you’ll want to listen out for what seems to be an honest response and smart solutions to address staffing shortages without putting residents at risk.
For more guidance on selecting an assisted living facility, Argentum, a nonprofit organization for senior living communities, has put together a 12-page brochure to help consumers. Check it out for even more detailed suggestions.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
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