Choosingt he Best Independent Living Facilty for Your Loved One

Choosing the Best Independent Living Facility for Your Loved One : 

Choosing the Best Independent Living Facility for Your Loved One

Searching for Independent Living : 

Searching for Independent Living Searching for a new home for an elderly loved one can be overwhelming If you are equipped with the right tools, your search can be less trying The following items are the steps you should take to find the best independent living facility for your loved one

Step One: How Much Help Do You Need? : 

Step One: How Much Help Do You Need? Independent living facilities are geared towards those who: Are more autonomous May need simple help with activities of daily living Differ from skilled nursing care, which caters to people who may have Alzheimer’s disease or need a higher level of care Discuss your loved one’s care needs with your family doctor If you know the type of care needed, facility staff won’t be able to talk you into more costly and unnecessary services

Step Two: Include your elderly family member in the process : 

Step Two: Include your elderly family member in the process Value their opinion Transition may be difficult Understand their needs, values, and preferences Empower them to aid in decision-making Not all people are active later in life Find a community that values your loved one’s individual preferences

Step Three: Decide what you can afford : 

Step Three: Decide what you can afford Independent living facilities range in price from state to state and depending on the type of community Choose the best option based on what you can afford Facilities that cater to the affluent are not necessarily the best

Step Four: Tour the facility : 

Step Four: Tour the facility Take a tour after hours Marketing staff is gone Employees not expecting guests Dinner time on a Sunday allows you to watch how staff interact with residents Talk to some of the residents Check the kitchen, rooms, and grounds to ensure they’re kept up to standard

Step Five: Go for the “community” feel : 

Step Five: Go for the “community” feel Your loved one should feel that they’re moving into a welcoming new home, not an institution Transition is difficult May equate leaving their home to a loss of independence Many facilities employ staff with degrees who understand the feelings your loved one may be going through Social workers Gerontologists

SeniorHomes.com : 

SeniorHomes.com Information in this presentation provided by gerontologist Melissa Shulz SeniorHomes.com is a free resource for seniors and families searching for housing and care services Visit http://www.seniorhomes.com for more information on senior housing