Choosing one from among so many senior living communities is no easy task.
What are the important things to look at and what should you discount while comparing between different facilities?
We’ve put together 10 of the most important factors to consider when choosing an assisted living facility for you or a loved one.
#1. Location
Seniors in assisted living look forward to visits by family members. Ideally, you want to find a facility that’s located close enough that you and other family members can visit often.
Life can get really busy for families and if the facility is located far away, visits can quickly become few and far between resulting in seniors feeling lonely and abandoned.
#2. Track Record of the Facility
All facilities are not created the same and a short visit to the premises is just not enough to get the real behind-the-scenes picture. Ask family and friends if they or someone they know has had any experience with that particular facility.
Take your search one step further by making inquiries with your local or state long-term care ombudsman program. Strike off any facility that has had complaints against them. Only consider a facility that has a good track record of how they treat the residents.
#3. Care Services Offered
No matter what their age, everyone needs to make sure they have proper medical care. This is especially important for seniors, who may suddenly experience medical conditions or sudden illnesses even if they have otherwise always been healthy.
Check out the care services offered by the facility and make sure the physical and medical needs of your elderly loved ones are properly met.
#4. Staff’S Expertise And Experience
Caring for the aged requires a certain amount of specialized experience and expertise. Take some time to find out about the staff’s level of experience with caring for seniors.
It’s important to look for a facility that only hires qualified and experienced staff.
#5. Safety
An assisted living facility must have adequate safety measures to minimize the risks to seniors.
This includes making sure the premises are senior-friendly, and also putting in place safety measures to protect residents from intruders.
#6. Housekeeping Services
The ability to do all tasks independently declines as we get older. Residents in senior facilities often require some amount of help with daily activities.
Before booking any facility, make sure to ask about the type and extent of housekeeping services they offer and if additional services come at a cost.
#7. Transportation
Seniors enjoy an occasional outing that allows them to get out of the premises, whether it’s to spend time bowling or shopping. Does the facility have their own transportation to take residents out?
#8. Medical Assistance
Seniors need increasing medical assistance as they get older.
Will they get this at the facility you are looking at?
Are they any medical staff on site to care for residents in a medical emergency?
Will they help with administering medication or at least reminding your loved one to take their medication?
#9. Visiting Days And Hours
Are there specific visiting hours?
Are the hours convenient for you considering your work hours and your other commitments?
If the visiting hours are too restrictive and you have to constantly juggle your schedule, you are less likely to visit your loved one regularly in the facility.
#10. Contracts
When you finally choose a community, you will be asked to sign a contract with detailed information about the services that the facility offers. Take time to read through the details of the contract thoroughly.
If you do not understand something, don’t hesitate to get it clarified. Unclear or missing details make it easier for a facility to shrug off their responsibility.
Make sure that the contract covers all aspects of the services they provide, how they handle medical issues, details of the meal service and other aspects.
Keeping these 10 factors in mind will help you find an assisted living facility that’s just perfect for your loved one.
