Assisted living facilities are an excellent option for older adults who are not able to manage independent living and need help with daily activities like getting dressed or bathing but don’t need around the clock medical care that nursing homes provide.
Assisted living facilities provide residents with their own rooms or apartments and common areas. They usually provide around the clock supervision and services like housekeeping, laundry and meals, as well as help with personal care and taking medications.
Assisted living facilities also provide a social environment, including recreational activities like book clubs, exercise and wellness programs and trips to the movies and concerts. These facilities will provide different levels of care, depending on what the residents need and what their budget is.
If you are looking for an assisted living facility for yourself or your loved ones, you need to ask a lot of questions and follow a structured process. Here are a few things to consider when choosing the right assisted living facility for you or your loved one:
- Cleanliness. Make sure that the assisted living facility you choose is as well maintained and clean as possible for the health and safety of your senior loved one. Watch out for any unpleasant smells when you are touring the facility.
- An emergency generator. Make sure that the facility you are choosing has either an emergency generator or an alternative power source in case there is a power outage.
- Enough common areas. While your senior loved one will have their own apartment, room or space, it is also crucial that there are plenty of common areas, like dens and living rooms, for them to socialize with other residents and engage in recreational activities that help their minds, bodies and spirits.
- A good floor plan. Make sure that the facility you choose has a logical floor plan that is easy and simple to follow, especially if your senior loved one has any memory issues, like dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- Large enough rooms. It is also important to make sure that the facility has large enough rooms to meet your loved one’s needs.
- Rooms with handrails. Make sure that the rooms and bathrooms in the facility have handrails and call buttons in case of emergencies.
- Safety locks on doors and windows. For the safety of your loved one, you should also make sure that the facility has safety locks on all doors and windows.
- Security and fire safety systems. Make sure that the facility also has security and fire safety systems in place for the safety of your loved one.