Are you feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of selecting the ideal assisted living community for your loved one? You are not alone. After all, you want the best for your loved one; yet, there are several aspects to consider when choosing an assisted living community, making it tough to know which one is right. Do not worry though, here is an explanation of how to choose the right assisted living for your loved one.
What Is Assisted Living?
Before we dive into how to choose the right assisted living, we have to understand what exactly it is first. Assisted living is a residential alternative for mature adults who require some assistance with everyday tasks such as showering or dressing but do not require round-the-clock health care provided by a nursing home. At the same time, living in an assisted living community also allows your loved ones to maintain their privacy and freedom.
Priority List
The first step to choosing the right assisted living for your loved one is to ask them what are their needs, concerns, and wants. After all, this involves them, so their opinion should matter the most. Hence, talk with them and make a priority list – with their needs taking the top priority, followed by concerns, and wants. Remember to be realistic about the list, and think about what they might need in the future too. At the same time, it is also a great chance for you to address any of their worries or unrealistic expectations.
Services and Amenities
One factor that distinguishes the “right assisted living” from others is its services and amenities. Some assisted living communities, for example, may have salons and gaming areas, while others may not. Therefore, think about the priority list made by your loved ones, and choose one that can fulfill their needs and wants. Here’s a tip: do thorough online and offline research. You can first do online research by visiting their website and googling their reviews. By checking the reviews made by others, you can learn from others’ first-hand experience whether their services and amenities are excellent. After narrowing down the options through online research, you can directly visit the assisted living community. Linen service, private and communal dining rooms, massage therapists, wellness programs, and complimentary transportation are some of the services and facilities that a great assisted living community will provide.
Costs
There are many types of assisted living communities out there, each with varying costs. Therefore, it’s crucial to figure out which assisted living community suits your budget best and whether it is worth the money. After all, even if the assisted living community provides numerous benefits, your loved one will not enjoy your time there if it is out of your budget or if the additional services are not what your loved one needs. Here is a tip. Assisted living communities that charge a controlled entrance or monthly fees are a better choice. This is because there will not be any hidden expenses. And when you do eventually sign the contract, carefully check for the base rate, any expected rate hikes, and all the small prints, including which services are included and excluded in the price.
