Having the conversation about moving into an assisted living facility with an aging loved one, such as a parent or grandparent, can be a difficult and emotional one. Moreover, finding the right assisted living facility for your loved one can be quite challenging as well. Someone who has never had cause to looking into assisted living facilities before might find themselves lost as to what exactly they should be looking for. They also may not have realized just how different one facility can be from the next.
Ultimately, it is important to bear in mind that the facility to choose for your loved one should meet certain criteria as it pertains to their health and personal preferences. For these reasons, it is important that you do your best to keep them in the loop and get their opinions on the situation as well. This can be a tough part of the process if your loved one isn’t exactly on board with the concept in general. However, it is important that you take steps to do what is best for them based on their health and current needs.
If you are looking for an assisted living facility for a loved one and are a bit overwhelmed at the myriad of options available, here are four things in particular to be on the lookout for.
1. Type of Medical Care Offered
First and foremost, you need to take your loved one’s health into consideration. Your search for the right facility is going to begin with finding ones that cater to the specific health and wellness needs that your loved one has. Some assisted living facilities are designed to give residents a greater amount of independence, while others offer higher levels of care and even specific type of medical care.
The minimum standard of care should be rather straightforward across the board. Most, if not all facilities will have medical staff on site 24 hours a day can will administer any medications that your love one might need at the right times and in the right dosses throughout the day. Laundry, food, and cleaning services will also most likely be available at all of the facilities you visit. However, the standard of medical care is going to differ depending on the type of facility you are looking at.
For instance, if your loved one is in a situation where they need frequent medical care and attention, you will want to find a facility that offers a higher level of assistance. If they are suffering from Alzheimer’s or another memory related condition, they will most likely need to move to a facility that specifically caters to such residents. Facilities of this nature, like Brandywine Living, will also have residents living there who are not suffering from Alzheimer’s, although they will offer such care to those residents who need it.
2. Variety of Activities Scheduled
Those who own and operate assisted living facilities know just how important it is for residents to have something fun to look forward to each and every day. This is why so many offer scheduled activities throughout the week to keep residents busy and entertained and promote active social lives. However, not all facilities will offer the same sort or frequency of activities.
Have a conversation with your loved one about what they hope to have in terms of a social life once they move to their new home. If they are the sort who would like to stay active and perhaps even join a club of sorts, you should look to find an assisted living facility that offers such things.
If, on the other hand, you loved one would like to be able to socialize on their own terms, then perhaps a more relaxed environment would suit them better. No matter what your loved one is looking for in their weekly schedule of activities, you are surely going to be able to find a facility that caters to their taste.
3. Tasteful Décor
One of the most challenging aspects of moving into an assisted living facility is the realization that you are no longer going to have your own home. Something that can serve as a constant reminder of this is the fact that the décor of the facility they move to is not appealing to them. If your loved one is finding their new home to be poorly designed, they might have a harder time adjusting.
In this case, make sure to bring your loved one along to take a tour potential facilities if at all possible so that they can see if the overall décor of the place suits their taste well enough. If it isn’t possible to do so, make sure that you go over as many viable options as possible and peruse the photos of the facilities. Ensuring that your loved one is satisfied with the décor of their new home can go a long way to helping them adjust to this major change in their life.
4. Good Location
Another important factor that should be on your list of must-haves when searching for an assisted living facility should be the location of the facility you eventually choose. You will no doubt want to be close enough to the facility so that you can visit easily and frequently. It is also better to be nearby in case an emergency should ever arise. Most importantly, though, having you close can make this transition easier to manage for your loved one.
There will be some difficult days ahead as they look to adjust to their new way of life. Throughout this process, having you close by is going to be a big source of comfort for your loved one. If they know that they can call you and you can be there for them in a matter of minutes, for instance, they will be able to feel more comfortable with this change overall.
