When you are searching for an assisted living community that will be a good fit for a senior loved one, the process can feel more than a little overwhelming. Knowing what questions to ask and what to look for when you visit can help you made an informed choice.
These six tips can assist you in making the most of your assisted living community tours:
1. Organize Before You Go
While you might think you will remember what questions to ask and how the staff at each community answers your questions, the reality is you probably won’t. It is far too easy to confuse one community for another after you begin touring. Make a written list of questions you want to ask and what you want to look for before you head out. Pack a tablet and a few pens so you can take notes as you work your way through each community.
2. Objectively Assess Your Senior Loved One’s Needs
Another task to complete before you arrive for an assisted living community tour is to make a list of the personal care and daily living tasks your family member requires assistance completing. While it may be difficult to accept how much help your loved one needs, try to be objective when you complete this process. Most communities assess their level of care charges based on what each resident requires. If you aren’t honest about what they really need, you may end up paying more for care than you were expecting. Or, even worse, your senior family member may end up in a community that isn’t a good fit for them and have to move again.
3. Ask for a Comprehensive Listing of Costs
Comparing apples to apples to determine the price of an assisted living community is important. Unfortunately, there isn’t a standard pricing system across all assisted living communities. It takes a little extra work to compare what services and amenities are included and what may require an extra fee. Also be sure to ask how often prices increase and how much advance notice you will receive if the monthly fee is about to go up. Because the experienced elder care advisors at the Senior Living Specialists know the Dallas-Fort Worth senior living market so well, we can help you make certain you fully understand what monthly fee you should expect.
4. Ask About the Caregivers and Support Staff
The staff who will be providing hands-on care and support for your senior loved one are the best indicators of the quality of care provided by the community. Ask about the resident to staff ratio. Also ask what kind of background check the community conducts before hiring and afterwards. Find out what training programs the community offers and how often they are held. You want to make sure the staff is qualified and that they continue to update their skills.
5. Observe Life Enrichment Programs and Activities
Socialization and companionship play a vital role in keeping older adults healthy. Make sure you review the activities and event calendar for each community you are considering and that you take time to observe a few programs in action. Are residents engaged in programs? Does the community offer a variety of activities geared toward different resident hobbies and interests? Ask what happens in the evenings and on weekends. You want to make sure there are still opportunities for life enrichment after traditional business hours.
6. What Would Require a Resident to Move
Assisted living regulations in the state of Texas are fairly complex. It is important to make sure the community you are considering will be a good fit now and in to the future. Moving is difficult at any age but even more so as you grow older. Understanding what specific circumstances would require your senior loved one to move again is an important factor to consider when you are making your final decision.
If you are ready to begin your search for senior living or home care in north Texas, please call us today at 214-929-5055. Our service is at no cost to families. We can even conduct our initial assessment over the phone so you can start your search quickly!
