Did you know that there were 15,600 nursing homes in the United States in 2016?
If you or your loved one needs additional help or assistance there are a number of options available. You might choose to find adult daycare assistance, an independent living community, a nursing home, or an assisted living facility.
If you feel that an assisted living facility is the right choice for you, keep reading to find out more about how to choose the right facility for yours or your loved one’s senior life.
5 Factors to Consider When You or a Loved One Needs to Find an Assisted Living Facility
Deciding you or your loved one needs to move into a senior assisted living facility is never easy. There are lots of things you need to think about such as:
- If it’s the right time for you or your loved one
- The costs of the care, and what facilities/amenities
- And the amount of care you want to receive from the facility.
Knowing whether you or your loved one needs additional care from a facility can be hard to determine. But there are a few signs that you or your loved one might benefit from moving into an assisted living arrangement, learn more about those signs now.
Once you’ve decided you or your loved one needs to find an assisted living facility, you need to do some research. These five influencing factors will help you to find the right facility for you or your loved one.
1. Types of Care Available
If you or your loved one requires special treatment plans or might do in the future, it’s a good idea to find assisted living facilities that can facilitate this. For example, if you or your loved one has early-onset dementia then you might want to ensure that there are qualified carers who can look after you or them.
Looking into different care options available can also help you and your family understand what to expect from the facility. Make sure you ask different facilities about the types of care they can provide and the costs.
2. Location
Most people who go into assisted living facilities want to remain in the local area, so their family and friends can visit them. When you’re looking at which facility is best for you, make sure you look at those that are local to you. Compare your local options by looking at their assisted living facility ratings and find out what other people think about them.
Having said that, staying close to home or family might not always be viable. Due to different state laws, some facilities limit how much medical assistance their residents can have. So, if you or your loved one requires lots of medical assistance it might be better to find a facility in a state that permits this.
3. Cost
Cost is another factor you need to consider when finding the right facility for you or your loved one. This can greatly vary from facility to facility and can be charged differently too. For example, some assisted living facilities charge monthly while others charge an upfront fee.
Most residents find that they have to pay for their care through their own personal finances, such as savings or long-term care insurance. This means that you’ll need to work out your finances and establish how much you can realistically afford before narrowing down your search.
4. Size and Community
The size and community/cultural feel of assisted living facilities is another important factor to consider. You or your loved one wants to be certain that their accommodation and residence feel as comfortable as possible.
This means that if you or they prefer to be social, then a medium-sized or large facility with a big community spirit would work best for them. Whereas, if you or they prefer to have some socializing but are happy to spend more time alone, they might prefer a smaller facility.
Many assisted living facilities ensure their residents are included and involved in community-based tasks and activities. But it’s ultimately about finding the place that feels best for you or them.
5. Services and Amenities
Different facilities across the United States offer a range of services and amenities. Most will offer housekeeping, medication support, dining services, and exercise and wellness programs.
However, other facilities might also offer services for specific health needs. For example, more and more facilities are accommodating to a growing need for personalized treatment plans for residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
It might also be the case that some facilities offer ‘quality of life programs’. These might have a large range of therapies, such as art and pet therapy, musical activities, technology classes, community outings, and other skill-learning and hobby workshops.
During your tour of potential facilities, you’ll have many questions to ask assisted living staff, from the costs of the center to the types of care plans they offer. But don’t forget to ask about the services and amenities too, these will provide you and your loved ones with a clear idea of what the daily routines and activities are.
Live Your Best Senior Life By Choosing the Right Assisted Living Facility
Getting older comes with its complications, but that doesn’t mean that you or your loved one shouldn’t live their best senior life. Once you’ve researched your options, contacted facilities, and taken tours of the centers, make sure you implement our advice and tips on how to find the right assisted living facility for you or your loved one.
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