Finding an appropriate Assisted Living residence can be a very
time-consuming and rather daunting task, but you're already off to a great start
with The Care Guide. You can do additional research using TheCareGuide.com.
When making a decision to choose an Assisted Living retirement residence,
you should keep the following in mind:
- You, the person affected by the decision and key family members should be
involved in the process.
- Making important life choices can be emotionally stressful and may strain
relationships. Assign one family member to assist with all the necessary
decisions and arrangements.
Considerations in selecting an appropriate assisted living residence
include its location – proximity to community amenities such as hospitals and
churches, the availability of transportation for shopping, outings and medical
appointments. The quality of food, safety and security issues, the cleanliness
of the home, the breadth of social and recreational activities offered and the
home’s ability to meet your needs or those of you loved now and as needs change,
are other important factors.
Assisted Living residences can vary in terms of the programs, services and
levels of care provided, so it is important to understand what services are
included in the posted monthly or daily rental rates, and what services, if any,
are available at an additional cost. Also make sure you understand what happens
if you or your loved one should decide to or need to move from the residence.
Once you’ve become familiar with the services and amenities offered in
Assisted Living residences, and identified the top candidates using The Care
Guide and TheCareGuide.com, it's a good idea to make a list, actually two lists.
The first is a list of the things you must have in order to live comfortably and
the second, a list of what you would like to have, since what we need is often
quite different from what we want. This checklist will be useful in helping you
narrow your choices.
Next, call ahead to schedule a tour of each residence. Many will offer a
tour and a meal, to show off their residence. Try to observe "a day in the life"
at the home – perhaps attend some activities or stay for a meal. Many homes
offer short-term trial stays ranging from a couple of nights to a few weeks,
which is an excellent way to truly “test the waters”.
Here are some other suggestions to help you choose the home that can best
suit your needs and preferences, or those of a loved one:
- While touring a residence, ask if you can wander around on your own to get a
better feel for the place.
- Ask residents about their experience at the home; their likes and dislikes –
do residents appear to be happy and enjoying themselves?
- After a scheduled visit, drop in another day at a different time of day to
see if there are any differences.
- Ask for resident family references who you can contact for their opinions.
When touring a residence, keep in mind your lists - what you need and what you
want.
Feel free to contact us at 1-800-311-CARE (2273) or
info@thecareguide.com should you have
any questions or require further assistance.