Are you exploring senior living communities for a loved one who requires much more than home care? While this can be a challenging decision, it may also be inevitable. That is why you should focus on finding a suitable senior living community for them. So, where do you start if you need senior living apartments for a loved one?
Tips to Find the Right Senior Living Community
- Familiarize yourself with various senior living options for care and lifestyle
- Determine the senior living lifestyle that suits your loved one
- Make a list of questions to ask for the best insight into the community’s quality
- Ensure your community of choice has adequate staff to meet the needs of your loved one
- Inquire about different available amenities and how much they cost
- Check if the activities residents participate in align with your loved one’s interests
- Reach out to different communities for more information and resources where necessary.
Before choosing the right senior living community for your loved one, it’s paramount to understand the various options. They include;
Assisted Living
Assisted living comprises support with daily activities and medical assistance, alongside fun social events and enriching hobbies. Some of the seniors in assisted living may require additional support like skilled care and memory care.
Independent Living
Independent living is ideal for those sassy seniors who don’t need active assistance. They still get to do vital daily activities by themselves, but they don’t have to worry about the complications of maintaining a home.
Supportive Living
Supportive living is almost similar to assisted living. However, seniors in supportive living may need help with the cost of care. So if you are looking for a cost-effective plan for your elderly loved one, this may be your best option.
Memory Care
Determining the right time to enroll a loved one in memory care can often be difficult. If your elderly loved one is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, you may become apprehensive about their safety when no one else is around. If that’s the case, memory care can make both your lives easier.
Personal Care
Personal care provides medical assistance and support with daily activities to seniors who can still manage an independent life. The staff ensures all the needs of the seniors are met to minimize unnecessary stress.
Skilled Care
Licensed or skilled medical experts attend to senior citizens in need of skilled care. This may include regular injections, wound care, physical therapy, and more.
What to Look for in a Senior Living Community
Quality of Life
The current residents at a senior living community are your best resource when looking for a prospective facility. Inquire about how they like lying there. You can even join in on one of the activities when you visit and take note of the level of engagement and turnout.
Keep an eye out for the facility’s cleanliness level and inquire about any disturbing noises, smells or sights.
Also, senior living communities with ample outdoor spaces are ideal to ensure your loved one enjoys as much nature as possible. This is key if they enjoy gardening and going for walks.
Don’t forget to check for monitoring policies and the level of security in the community.
Adequate Care
You are probably familiar with what your loved one’s unique care requirements are. Do you think their needs will be met in this senior living community? Ask specific questions and ask about support regarding mobility, dressing, bathing and medication. Note how current residents explore the premises and inquire about their day-to-day living for more insight.
Move-out Policies
All senior living communities have a move-out policy. Inquire if they need a 30-day notice and whether your loved one may need to move if their condition changes. Do they offer graduated levels of care with any of their living options? How does the community determine if they can continue to care for a resident? We recommend getting these questions out of the way before you make a decision.
Dining
Take some time to have a meal with your loved one at a prospective senior living community. Do they accommodate dietary restrictions? How do they vary the menu daily and weekly, and are there menu alternatives? Is the food healthy and tasty? How are the food service and the feel of the dining area?
Dining is primary to everyone’s life; you want to ensure your loved one gets plenty of healthy, filling meals.
Your search for a senior living community can be a fun and exciting way to bond with your loved ones as you find the right community for them. Tag them along, ask the questions we’ve discussed and check all those boxes before you entrust your elderly loved one to them.