How to Choose a Right Assisted Living Facility

What is Assisted Living

Assisted living is a residential option for seniors who need help with some of the activities of daily living. They may need assistance with daily chores like cooking meals, using the bathroom at the night, housekeeping and moving around.
If you need more personal care services than what you can avail at home or an independent living retirement community but do not need the full time medical care and supervision of a nursing home, you can go for an assisted living facility.

Assisted living may be considered an intermediate between independent living and nursing home care. You can get the daily support you need while remaining as independent as possible. You can make the transition of leaving home and family easier by taking time to find the right option to support your needs and concerns.

Assisted living facilities for retired folks offer the safety and security of 24-hour support and access to care. You can avail services any time in day or night by making a phone call. A good facility will develop a personalized plan that accommodates your needs and disabilities, while giving you the freedom to do what you can for yourself.

Services at a typical assisted living facility include:

• Three meals a day served in a common dining area
• Emergency call systems in each resident’s living space
• Assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, and walking
• Exercise and wellness programs
• Housekeeping services
• Medication management
• Laundry services
• Transportation
• Social and recreational activities
• Access to health and medical services
• Staff available to help with scheduled needs, as well as unexpected issues
• Round-the-clock security

Things to consider when choosing an assisted living facility

The most important factor when choosing an assisted living facility for seniors is that it feels friendly, safe, and comfortable to you. The facility should be clean and well maintained without giving much emphasis on most fancy or expensive. Most essential is that it should be a place where you feel happy and most at home.

• If you prefer a smaller, cozier environment or a larger, bustling place with more activities or if gardens or other greenery is important to you.

• Activities and hobbies of your interest are available or not.

• Food options and preferences as per your needs.

• Health problems taken care of in case of emergencies, Treatment given here and options outside.

• If the facility is licensed

Also take into consideration:
If better help than family and friends can provide to carry on your daily activities.

For those feeling lonely and depressed at home, social aspect of assisted living sure helps. So select an assisted living facility which offers a range of social and recreational activities and also gives the opportunity to make new friends.

Choose a place taking into consideration your safety, so that you will feel more confident about your mobility when you are sure that you will get proper assistance.

Responsibilities of living at home include the work of cooking, cleaning, shopping for groceries, and doing laundry. Always go for a place which offers you help with these services at any time.

Go for senior assisted living centers which give transportation facilities if not you may have to depend on family and friends to drive you out and may have to be housebound if timely help is not available.

Leaving home is not easy and you often like you’re losing your independence or your identity. It’s important to realize that all of these feelings are normal. Take some time to acknowledge these feelings of loss.

An assisted living facility brings in comfort and happiness only when in the new living environment, you get along with new residents and get used to the staff. This can feel stressful in the beginning but you can make the transition easier by.

Packing in advance to avoid confusions regarding what to take or discard.

Before moving in, knowing your expectations of the community helps.

You will feel more at home if you meet the residents, participate in activities, and explore the facility.

Adjust to the change and express your feelings about the transition.

Also check if the staff have time to speak with you and are genuinely interested in you and if they interact warmly with current residents and how do they handle emergencies.

Regarding residents if they appear happy and enjoy interacting with one another. See if you can be happy in their company and if they have like-minded hobbies or interests.

The family, friends and relatives of seniors opting for Assisted Living facility should be equally supportive

What is Next:- When and How to choose the best senior living community?