Do you have a friend or loved one who needs assistance performing day-to-day life tasks? Maybe they need help with personal chores such as dressing and housekeeping or medical care like providing and monitoring medication.
Whatever assistance your loved one may need, assisted living facilities can be an excellent option for them.
This article will provide some tips to help you get the most from assisted living facilities. We will cover the things you need to focus on when choosing a suitable facility for your loved one.
Topics Covered
Think about the Services You Need
When choosing an assisted living facility, your first point of focus should be to evaluate your and your loved one’s needs. Take time to think about the services that are important to you and that need to be available in the facility. Talk with your doctor or caregiver to evaluate what matters most to you.
Assessing your needs will help narrow down your search to only those assisted living communities that can meet them. Different facilities offer varying services. Some specialize in 24-hour emergency care, while others may offer only personal care.
For example, if your loved one needs 24-hour hospice care, you may need to go for a facility that offers medical monitoring. They may give your loved one a medical alert system that connects them to a caregiver in case of an emergency.
If they tell you to buy one, here is a guide for choosing the best medical alert devices.
Try asking yourself the following questions when evaluating your needs:
- What living arrangements am I looking for?
- What daily chores and activities do I want assistance with?
- How often will I or my loved one need assistance?
Make a List of Assisted Living Facilities in Your Area
Once you evaluate your needs, make a list of suitable facilities in your area. You can ask your friends and relatives or search online using directory websites like Yellow Pages and Google My Business. Create a list so that you narrow down the facilities based on your needs.
For example, if your loved one spends most of their time in bed, you can choose a facility that has a specialized nursing unit.
Another thing to consider is the facilities’ proximity to your home. If your loved one is elderly, you should make sure that you can visit them regularly and that they can visit you too.
Assess the Different Types of Assisted Living Facilities
There are numerous types of assisted living facilities you can choose, depending on the living arrangements and level of care. Some are small, serving roughly 20 to 40 residents. While others may have 200 to 300 residents. The facility can be an apartment, one-story home or high-rise building, and the living space can be private rooms or shared quarters.
Regarding the level of care, two-level facilities are ideal for someone who can perform daily tasks with little to no assistance. There are also four-level facilities for residents who require high levels of care, for example, senior citizens with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia . Narrow down your list of assisted living communities to only the type that meets your needs.
Visit the Assisted Living Facility before Selecting the Most Suitable
Once you find a suitable assisted living facility, schedule a visit and talk to the staff. Enquire about the visitation policy, general services offered and if they provide any recreational activities. You want to go to an assisted living facility that offers recreational activities and is mindful of your cultural beliefs.
Here are some other things to check in the facility:
- Presence of common areas
- Size of rooms
- Cleanliness
- General security of the area
You can also enquire about the facility’s refund policy if you decide to terminate your contract. Try and ask as many questions as you can to ensure the place is safe and suitable for your loved one.
Assess the Costs and Contracts
The last thing that you should assess is the cost of staying in that assisted living facility. Enquire about the services covered by the base rent.
Most facilities charge extra for additional services, such as bathing and nursing care. You can tell the administrators to provide a comprehensive overview of all costs to help you decide which facility is best for you.
You should also ask them about the contract of their facility. The longer the contract period, the more expensive it is. To avoid shelling out more money, you should try to negotiate a contract period that suits your budget. In addition, you should know how to find the most affordable assisted living options.
Closing Remarks
Choosing a suitable assisted living community for your loved one can seem like an uphill battle. We hope this guide will help you narrow down your search and get the most from the facility you select.
Try and gather as much information as you can about the facility before signing a contract. Doing so will ensure you get the one that meets all your needs.
