Deciding Wisely: How to Evaluate Assisted Senior Living
Currently, over 800,000 Americans reside in a senior living community. If your loved one is about to join them in enhancing their quality of life, it's important to choose the right elderly care options for them.
Here, we're going to discuss how to evaluate assisted senior living communities and select the best one to meet your needs. Read on for some primary considerations to keep in mind when making your decision.
Consider the Location
Most families will want to have their loved ones close to them for visits. Spending quality time together is important, so don't move your aging loved one far away. A Des Moines senior community is ideal for those in Iowa who want quality care near them.
You also may want to consider other aspects of location preferences. If your loved one has a favorite neighborhood and wants to go into town, consider finding a community nearby.
Regardless, make sure that you look into how safe, walkable, and accessible the area is. Many care communities offer transportation to other locations, but public transit may be needed in some situations. Look into this and ensure that you select a place that meets the needs of the person in the community.
Costs and Value
Many people view assisted living as so expensive that they could never afford it. Some also think home care is a cheaper alternative to moving their loved one to an elderly care community.
Both of these are extremely false misconceptions. In fact, assisted living is far more affordable than home care. There is also a wide range of loans, payment plans, and insurance options for those looking to get care for an aging loved one.
However, knowing how much you have to spend is still important. When choosing a senior living community, know how much you can afford on care.
Compare costs and make sensible decisions, but choose a high-quality care community. Shirking on quality could mean a lower quality of life for your loved one, so spend what you need and look at prices of high-quality, comparable packages.
Current and Future Care Needs
Because people all have different support needs and challenges, selecting an appropriate community with the resources to help your loved one is important.
Someone with memory and cognitive difficulties may need help with remembering daily tasks and medication management. However, they may be able to move around freely and bathe.
Another person may have a great memory and sharp mind but lack mobility. These people will need intellectual stimulation and socialization, but they will also need a nurse to perform tasks like bathing and grooming.
Make sure that you find a community that's equipped to handle all of these needs.
However, don't forget to think about the future, either. As people age, they tend to lose eyesight and cognition, become less mobile, and have more accessibility needs.
Think about health issues that may develop later down the line, such as dementia. Choose a community that knows how to take care of your loved ones as new issues emerge and arise.
Living Conditions
In addition to meeting care needs, you must make sure you're choosing a community with good living conditions.
Everything should be clean and well-kept. There should be natural lighting, quality appliances, and welcoming colors. Interactions between community residents and staff members should be warm and open to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and at home.
You should also ensure that the community is designed for accessibility. Look for wide doorways, handrails, grip bars, wheelchair ramps, and easy-to-navigate open floor plans.
Getting a tour of the premises is the best way to get a feel for what life will be like for your loved one there, so don't shirk the opportunity to learn about the community.
Communication With Employees
While your loved one lives in the care community, they will likely have many questions about their surroundings.
They may ask questions about where they are and what activities they can take part in. They may also need help jogging their memory about basic information.
Ensure the community workers you talk to are compassionate and happy to answer questions. Patience and commitment to transparency are important.
You will also need to be able to communicate about your elderly loved one's individual treatment plan. Communication is key here as well. Make sure that you choose a senior living community with employees that you're comfortable talking to and contacting with any concerns.
Social and Stimulating Activities
Seniors can become isolated and lonely when they lack ample socialization time. In fact, about a quarter of adults over 65 years old are socially isolated, putting them at risk for health issues like depression, dementia, anxiety, and even stroke or heart disease.
Luckily, quality assisted living communities prevent this by offering opportunities for senior residents to interact.
Game nights and craft days are intellectually stimulating and give your elderly loved one a chance to meet people and make friends. Exercise and dance groups, along with book clubs and cooking classes, are available in many locations.
No matter what your loved one is interested in, make sure that there are regular opportunities for them to socialize with others and engage in things they're passionate about.
Many assisted living communities also make residents feel special with birthday parties, holiday gatherings, and special events. Check out whether the communities you're considering have these features, too.
Beyond How to Evaluate Assisted Senior Living Communities
Now that you know how to evaluate assisted senior living communities before making a decision, it's time to begin looking into your options. At Addington Place of Des Moines, we're excited to help Iowa families get the best possible care for elderly loved ones.
Our team will discuss our services, amenities, and benefits with you at length to help you decide on a care plan. We'll also talk about your beloved senior's specific needs to create an individualized strategy for enhancing their quality of life. Schedule a tour today to learn more about what we have to offer.