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Guide for Choosing Senior Living
When you start your search for assisted living facility for your aging loved one, you’re likely looking for a situation where he or she will be safe, happy, and well cared for for the rest of their life. Since there is no single, nationwide standard for the types of services offered in assisted living facilities, we’ve put together a guide to help you with this difficult decision. That said, there’s no substitute for visiting facilities in person — sometimes several different times — once you’ve narrowed your selection down to a handful of facilities.
What is senior living?
Senior living is a home and community-based setting for older adults combining housing with services focused on health and wellness, hospitality, personal care, and dining and nutrition. These communities differ greatly from the often boring, sterile image of "assisted living". The modern communities often have fun and uplifting environments and maybe near beaches, pools, and golf courses. These facilities are receiving more attention as the baby boomer generation begins to enter senior living.
Senior Living Options For You:
Independent Living: Providing older adults, who can effectively and safely care for themselves, with a range of services such as dining options, transportation services, and health and wellness programs, providing comfort, convenience, and socialization to fit their lifestyle.
Assisted Living: Providing residents with customized assistance for activities of daily living, such as maintaining personal hygiene, dressing, and eating, with strong consideration given to protecting independence, dignity, and quality of life.
Continuing Care Retirement Community (also known as a Life Plan Community): Providing several levels of care and living options most often including independent living, assisted living, and nursing care.
Memory Care: Providing specialized memory care for individuals experiencing various levels of cognitive decline. Some senior living communities specialize in caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Helping people with memory loss continue to feel connected to their families and the world around them.
Get to know the community’s culture, programming, and amenities
Though many families looking for senior care wonder how to find the best senior living facility, the ideal fit is different for everyone. Choosing the right senior living facility depends on your senior loved one’s hobbies and personality, as well as how the community can support and engage them. Seniors who are intellectually engaged generally feel happier and experience lower rates of stress and cognitive decline.
Another valuable element of the community’s culture is the people. The other community residents will become your loved one’s friends and daily companions. The best-senior living facilities promote quality of life, resulting in residents who seem engaged, social, and happy. Try to tour during a group activity of interest to your parent to observe interactions among residents.
Make sure to know the community will meet both short-term and long-term care needs
Choosing the right senior living facility means selecting a community that can meet your senior loved one’s needs as they evolve. First, verify the staff has experience managing any health condition your senior loved one may have. Then, look toward the future: Can the community adapt if your loved one’s needs change? Reach an understanding of how often staff members reevaluate care plans.