Making the decision to move into an assisted living facility is a hard one. Why make it more complicated by stumbling around in the dark? Below is a list of five factors to keep in mind while you tour potential facilities for your loved ones.
1. Assess for Current and Future Needs
Most facilities may have elevators, but do they also have easy access for mobility scooters and wheelchairs throughout the facility? Is the apartment accessible, should the need for such a device arise in the future? One often overlooked feature is facility-provided transportation for the tenant's various purposes and needs. This is often a factor that causes much distress if one fails to consider it, due to how isolating the lack of transportation to and from the outside world is. However, this can be alleviated somewhat if the facility is located within walking distance.
2. Safety
Be sure to take note of any features that surface and present a potential concerning situation for safety. A lot of surfaces that would be easy to trip or slip on should be kept to a minimum. Be sure to check for features that would help in case of a fall, or to help prevent one--such as railings in public bathrooms. Another safety issue to ask faculty about is the presence of a secure unit for tenants with progressive diseases, like Alzheimer's or dementia. If they say that such tenants are instead scattered about in the normal housing areas, or wandering about for long periods of time with little supervision, then you may want to consider a different assisted living facility.
3. Look into the Experiences of Families and Residents
Be sure to ask around and get feedback about life in the facility. This can often lend you valuable perspectives, as well as insight into potential issues, and how to avoid them. If there has been a history of elderly abuse at the facility, then this is often where you will hear about it. However, don't dive into this expecting the experience to be negative. Try to balance this by looking into the positive aspects as well. How interesting are the other tenants? Do they mesh well with your loved one? Do they take pride in their community by hosting their own clubs and activities, or are all options poorly-attended and threadbare activities run by the facility themselves? These may seem small, but they shed a lot of light on the health of the community at large.
4. Staff Friendliness
Be sure to pay attention to your interactions with the staff. Are they friendly and courteous? Do they treat tenants in a dignified manner? This is arguably the most important category on this list, and sadly the most neglected. Make no mistake: interactions with the staff are a crucial factor. If they act less than professional, or are even the slightest bit rude or abusive, then the place should be flat-out eliminated from any further consideration. If it's bad enough, then be sure to report them to the proper authorities.
5. Trust your Gut
At the end of it all, you may have to rely on your instincts to help you make the final decision. Don't take the plunge if you feel uneasy about the surroundings, since that could potentially indicate an underlying problem that could cause grief to your loved ones. Always remember to follow your heart: better safe than sorry, after all.
Visit a local assisted living center like Queen Anne Manor Senior Living today.
Share3 February 2015
Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.
