Senior living facilities offer a multitude of benefits to its residents. With numerous options, finding the senior community that suits your aging loved one can be a challenging process. Here are six valuable tips to help you choose the best senior care facility for your elderly.
Know your options
Senior living facilities vary depending on the level of assistance and care options. To choose the right one for your elderly, you must first understand the difference between the various living communities. Identify your aging loved one’s needs and the support that they require. Some senior community types include memory care, nursing homes, independent living, continuing care retirement communities, and assisted living.
Discuss with your senior loved one
One essential yet overlooked aspect when choosing the right care facility is communicating with your loved one. Talk to your senior loved one and get their input. Do they want more independence, or are they more comfortable being assisted? Do they prefer a smaller and more intimate community provided by a trusted care facility such as Longhouse?
Remember that your elderly is the one entering the community, so what you think is right for them may not necessarily be what they want. If you feel they’re not yet ready to take this vital step, respect their decision and refrain from forcing the issue.
Ask for recommendations
First-hand experiences are valuable when searching for the best senior living facility. Your elderly loved one’s doctor and other related medical staff can be great information sources. Ask them for recommendations and personal encounters with these care facilities.
Get referrals from trusted friends, colleagues, and neighbors who have taken the same path before. The more information you have, the better your chances of securing the perfect living community for your loved one.
Conduct site visits
Once you have filtered your options, the next step is to conduct site visits. Schedule a tour with your loved one to help you get a glimpse of what the senior living community offers. During your visits, observe how the staff interacts with the residents. Are they warm and helpful, or do they tend to scold the seniors? Is the place clean, safe, and spacious?
Talk to the facility’s personnel and interview the current residents. If at any point you or your elderly loved one feels unsafe or uncomfortable, take it as a red flag and move on to your next option.
Research credentials
Another critical step is to research the credentials of your elderly’s potential living facility. Conduct an internet search and look for reviews from trusted online platforms. Check if they have the proper operating licenses and for any previous violations.
Read the fine print
No matter how ideal the senior living community looks in person, you must clearly understand what’s included in their packages. Ensure that what they offer suits your elderly’s needs and current conditio. Even if budget is not a concern, have the facility explain their fees, as the last thing you want to deal with are hidden charges.
Endnote
Selecting the right senior living community for your elderly loved one need not be complicated. Take note of these tips and ask for professional help if necessary.
