Do you have a senior in your family, and you barely find time to visit them and help them out? If you do, you could consider moving them to a senior living community. Your loved one’s quality of life will depend wholly on the choice you make. You mustn’t, therefore, rush the process. You will want your loved one to be well taken care of. In this regard, you have to select a good community. But how do you go about it? Where do you start? Outlined below are guidelines that will help you to navigate the search smoothly and make it possible for you to choose wisely.
These communities are distinguished into varying types. It is important that you, first, familiarize yourself with the available types. These types include assisted, independent, memory, and continuing care communities. Independent communities take in seniors who can take care of themselves. These communities solely provide accommodation and other additional services such as dining, transportation, and fitness programs. Memory living communities specialize in rendering care to seniors suffering from cognitive degeneration. Assisted living communities take in seniors that cannot look after themselves. Practitioners in these communities help seniors with everyday activities such as bathing, eating, and dressing. Evaluate your loved one’s condition and determine which of these communities suits them best. If they, for instance, aren’t strong physically and require assistance with just about everything, you should zero in your search on assisted living communities.
You can get all the information you need about a particular community on their website. However, nothing beats a physical visit. Look for time to visit the communities of your choice. Be sure to take full advantage of your visit. Check out their amenities. Does the community have all the amenities needed to make your loved one’s stay worth their while? If not, look elsewhere. Interact with the caregivers. What is their attitude like? Do they look friendly? Do they have the training needed to render optimal care? A good senior living community is one that employs competent caregivers who love what they do and are committed to it. If at all possible, find time to chat with the seniors living there. Ask whether they are satisfied with the service quality they receive. Also, look at their state. Do they seem happy and well-taken care of?
Request to see inspection reports. Senior living communities have to be evaluated by third-party agencies to determine if they have what it take to provide optimal care. Always ask for copies of the communities’ inspection reports. Avoid moving your loved one into any community that has any negative feedback on their reports. Also, you should be wary of communities that are not willing to give copies of these reports. Besides inspection reports, request for copies of the communities’ permits and accreditation documents.
The welfare of your loved one is important. You wouldn’t want your senior to feel as if you don’t love them. Make them feel loved and appreciated by finding the best community home. Don’t forget to take the aforementioned guidelines into account during your search.