One of the hardest decisions you can make as an adult is either putting your parents into an assisted living facility or making that decision for yourself. When you consider that such a place is probably where a senior citizen will spend the last years of their life, maximizing the quality of their care and overall happiness is crucial.
That is why it is essential to make sure that any place you choose meets a variety of strict criteria. This article will outline the most important criteria to consider before choosing the right assisted living facility for you or your loved ones, outlining six crucial aspects. We will also briefly touch on the kind of things you do not want to see in an assisted living facility. Read on below to see what we have picked.
Types of Assisted Living Facilities
Nursing homes
When you consider assisted living facilities, you might immediately conjure images of an old nursing home that hasn’t seen a change of décor since the 70s, with nurses that should have been made residents years ago.
These days that isn’t the case. A quality nursing home will be bright and modern with friendly staff who will make the place feel like it is home. There will be both nurses and caregivers on staff who can attend to a resident’s need, offering as close to one-to-one care as you can get.
This is an ideal option for individuals who struggle with daily living tasks such as dressing, going to the bathroom, and cooking for themselves, as everything is provided.
Community Living
Another popular form of assisted living is a more independent senior community, where you will have your own home within a more secure community, and there will be staff on hand to help with any tasks, such as cooking, and medication management, but you will maintain your independence in your own space.
Distance from Home
Sending loved ones to a care home does not mean cutting off contact entirely. That is why you must pick one that remains within a day’s drive from home. There are some things that only family and friends can provide. Making sure that they can pop by and provide psychological support is crucial. Thankfully, with a company such as Frontier Management— with hundreds of care homes dotted around the USA — you can easily find one near you. Visit website now.
If you come from a remote area or live abroad and you will likely be somewhat cut off from visiting the medical facility within a day or two, we would recommend checking the WiFi connection at the facility to make sure that they are reachable for video calls.
Quality of Staff
We recommend visiting the assisted living facility home in person to make sure that it is the right place for you and your family. By doing this, you can get a personal perspective of the staff, taking a look at their conscientiousness, friendliness, attentiveness and more. By talking to them and observing how they look after the elderly, as well as those who may seem a little difficult or stubborn, you can gauge as to whether or not they will be the right fit for you or your parents. Another thing to bear in mind is the ratio of staff to patients. Ideally, there should be enough staff to cover any patient’s needs, no matter what happens.
Residents
Like-minded people thrive together. It is crucial to look at the types of residents at the facility to see if they would vibe well with you or your parents. For example, if you are an artist, it would make sense to look for a facility with other artists, so there is something to bond over. When visiting the facility, be sure to ask about the types of guests to make sure that they are the right fit. After all, these are the types of people you or your parents may be striking friendships and even potential romances with. It is also worth looking at how happy the residents are; ask them about their experiences with the home. They are likely to give their honest opinion.
The Food
While no one can expect Michelin-style service, it is important to take a look to ensure that the food that either you or your parents will eat daily meets certain standards. Is it a balanced diet with lots of nuts, legumes, and proteins important to ensure a healthy life later in age? Does it offer variety and excitement, with things to look forward to every day? Visit the canteen to look at exactly what is on offer; ask to see the menu and see how it changes day by day and week by week.
Types of Activities Offered
Keeping active in late age is crucial. This is not just about exercise or eating well but cultivating interests that stimulate creativity and inspiration. The types of programs that a great assisted facility should offer include:
- Yoga
- Zumba
- Swimming
- Gardening
- Spin Class
- Painting
- Book Clubs
- Foreign Language Classes
- Dancing
Additionally, entertainment is a must; good facilities regularly put-on fun events such as bingo, visiting comedians and singers, dog shows, theatre, and even home cinema events, for a higher budget, one can also invest in sporting options as golf, tennis, and bowling. Also take a look out for the types of trips that the facility offers, as, after all, it is important to get out of the home every now and again to experience the rest of the world.
Safety and Security
You want to make sure that either you or your loved ones are protected. It is worth enquiring when visiting about the security features on offer. Are there alarms installed in case of a break-in, security cameras that ensure accountability, locked doors on individual rooms, and a police station nearby? It is worth making sure that these protocols are inplace to provide a calm and comfortable assisted living experience.