When you are looking for care facilities for a loved one, you will come across many options. While on the one hand it is great to have so many options, it can be overwhelming to choose one from among these. How do you know which is the best fit for your loved one?
Understanding the different types of care home facilities and the amount of help your loved one requires with activities of daily living, can help you make an informed decision.
These are the most common care home options you will come across:
Assisted Living Housing
This type of senior care home provides long term care for seniors. The staff at an assisted living housing takes care of the residents’ meals, grooming, bathing, dressing, and transportation. Assisted living facilities do not offer medical care but the staff is responsible for ensuring that all residents take their prescribed medication. A senior living in such a facility will enjoy restaurant-style dining options; social activities with other residents, like art classes, book clubs, writing classes, gardening and exercise programs; and group outings.
Independent Living Housing
Independent living housing can also be called senior housing. Here, the staff provide light housekeeping and dining services. As the name suggests, seniors live in these communities independently. Hence, they cannot avail personal care services. Should a senior require assistance with personal care, they would have to hire the services of a home care provider to help them with their daily activities.
Retirement Community
Retirement communities are similar to independent living communities. However, the communities have age restrictions. Most communities accept seniors who are older than 55 years but generally each community has their own age limit criteria. Each senior has their own home within the community and the staff members offer dining services and light housekeeping. The homes have full-fledged kitchens as well, where seniors can do their own cooking should they want to. No help with daily living activities is provided.
Choosing the Right Housing Plan for a Loved One
Based on the help the senior requires for activities of daily living and the following parameters, you can choose the right housing plan for a loved one:
Cost of the Housing Plan
When a senior shifts to a senior living facility, cost is the major determining factor. Remember, it is not just the cost of buying space in the community. You must also take into consideration other costs such as meal plans, cable TV subscription, holidays, medical needs and personal care if necessary. Compare the overall cost of living in different senior care communities and select one that fits into your budget.
Amenities Provided
Every community will have different amenities, floor plan and design. Find out what amenities your loved one will receive after shifting there. Typical amenities include a pool, spa, gym library and others that make the life of your loved one easier. The question you must ask is will your loved one use these amenities? You must choose a facility that offers amenities that your loved one will use, otherwise it is futile.
Activities
Pay close attention to the activities offered. There is no point in putting your loved in a community that focuses on sports when they are not interested in them. Check out the activities your loved one enjoys and then work backwards to find a senior living community that offered those activities.
Level of Independence
Different seniors have different levels of care. Remember, as your loved one ages, the level of care will increase. Hence, you should look for a senior living community that can offer the independence the senior requires today and different options of care in the future, as the person ages.
Location of the Senior Living Community
You will want to visit your loved one regularly so it is advisable to look for a community that is close to your home so that you don’t have a long commute to visit the senior. Some communities also offer transportation services to take senior and their family out. You may want to check this as well when choosing a community.
