According to the American Health Care Association, there are over 30,600 assisted living communities in the U.S., which means that families have many assisted living options to choose from.
Understanding what to look for means you can find the perfect place for your loved one to thrive and make sure you've chosen the right community. But if you've never dealt with assisted living before, you likely won't know where to start your search.
Sounds like your situation? Don't worry, we've got the answers you're searching for. Here's how to find the right assisted living community for your loved one.
Many families get confused with different terminology, such as senior living, assisted living, and memory care. We're dealing with assisted living communities. Know, that these environments offer support services to care managers, while there are limited medical services.
Care employees help residents with daily activities, such as dressing, hygiene, and medication management. Most communities also handle daily chores, from cleaning to cooked meals.
You may discover a highly credible assisted living community, but it's worthless if they can't support your relative's needs. Families should create a personalized care plan for their loved one, so they know what to look for while involving them in the decision process. The plan considers your loved one's needs, preferences, and circumstances to ensure they receive quality senior care.
Drawing up a personalized care plan gives you a starting point that you can work from, making it an essential part of the process.
When choosing a retirement home, families should factor in the community's amenities. A reputable assisted living community will have plenty of activities available for residents so that seniors are mentally, spiritually, and socially engaged.
Aside from amenities, take on board the community culture. You won't be able to gather this from their website, so schedule a tour or visit for several hours to get a better understanding of the culture. Chat with the residents, see the amenities, and talk to the seniors for a better insight into the assisted living community's culture.
Another factor to take seriously is the community's cleanliness. Seniors are more vulnerable to illnesses because of their weaker immune systems, which makes good sanitation paramount.
During your tour, evaluate each room and note down anything concerning, such as clutter or dust buildup. If the employees can't clean public spaces that everyone can see, it's likely worse in private spaces. Luckily, most assisted living facilities take hygiene and their residents' well-being seriously.
One of the biggest assisted living factors is a community that aligns with your loved one's dietary requirements. If your loved one has any allergies or restrictions, talk with the assisted living community to see what options are available.
You should also ask to see portion sizes and what happens if your relative is hungry outside of dining hours. Most credible communities will offer a selection of snacks during this time.
When you compare elderly care options, you should consider the community's location. If you're planning to visit a lot, it makes sense to choose somewhere convenient for you and your family.
Aside from your situation, consider how the community's location affects your relative. For instance, there may not be enough accessibility or entertainment in remote communities, which could be a problem if your loved one is still active and independent.
Regarding accessibility, make sure that it aligns with your relative's fitness and needs. If your loved one has mobility issues, visit the community to see if it's wheelchair accessible and has safety measures in place to reduce falls.
You want to choose a community where the employees are experienced and receive regular training. But staff should also be warm and friendly to both residents and visitors.
A dealbreaker is the community's staff-to-ratio because if it's too low, your loved one may not get enough attention. Plus, employees are more likely to be stressed, which can affect the residents' mental well-being.
Reading reviews plays a massive part in choosing an assisted living community.
The beauty of reviews is that they give you valuable insight into the community, so you can make an informed decision. A bonus is that commenters will share their honest opinion of every topic, whether it's accommodation or dining options, which you wouldn't get on a tour.
At the same time, take comments with a grain of salt. Just because someone didn't like a community, doesn't mean that it wouldn't work for your relative. But if you read anything alarming, like neglect, continue your search because that's a major red flag and it isn't worth risking your loved one.
Accessing senior living essentials costs money, regardless of the community you choose, so be honest about finances. You don't want your loved one to fall in love with a community, only to find that it's not within their budget.
To avoid disappointment, take a look at the numbers and see how your loved one can afford it, whether it's selling assets or dipping into savings. Once you have a short list of assisted living communities, check their website for cost estimates and cross-off ones that don't align.
Overall, if possible, involve your loved one and ask what they think about each option. You want your relatives to be comfortable with the community and even if you have small disagreements, it is their decision overall.
Now that you have a list of considerations for assisted living options, it'll bring you closer to choosing the perfect situation for your loved one. The key is to take your time and put your relative's needs at the forefront of the decision-making process.
At Addington Place of Sparta, our team of experts strives to make our residents comfortable and thrive in every aspect of their lives. If you're interested in finding an assisted living community in Sparta, IL, we'd love to hear from you. Schedule a tour to chat with a representative and learn more about our community.