Tip to Touring a Senior Living Community

The decision to transition from independent living to a senior living facility is always hard as it conveys the idea or perception that one can't take care of themselves anymore. Fortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth. Many seniors take the journey for other reasons such as:

*The desire to be around other senior citizens
*Availabilty of interesting community events (shuffleboard, bingo, arts & crafts, etc.)
*The concept of nearby help or assistance when it's needed

However, making the decision is only half the journey. The other half is finding the "best" community or facility for you.

Here's a very good write-up that I saw speaking to that very topic:

View the original article here

While making the decision to transition into a senior living community can be difficult for individuals, once the decision to move is made, the next step is finding the perfect community to move in to. Selecting the perfect senior living community can prove to be a bit of a challenge based on specific health care needs and personal preferences for community atmosphere and amenities.

 

 The following are a few different categories you should keep in mind when touring senior living communities. 

When visiting an assisted or independent living community for the first time it is important to know the background on the facility and the company. Details on how long it has been owned, if it is for-profit or not-for-profit community, their operational philosophy, the longevity of staff, and access to the on-site staff is critical information to have when making the decision to move into a community. Inquire about staff and volunteers, how often owners/mangers are on site and ask yourself, does the community feel "warm" and "cozy"?

Ask about trips and activities offered. Activities should be designed to meet the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual and vocational needs of the residents. Transportation should also be provided for medical appointments, religious services if desired as well as fun activities with their friends and family such as sporting events.

This is usually a priority when selecting a senior living community. You want to make sure that health and wellness programs are available including assistance with showering, dressing, escorts and medication management. Questions that should be addressed include,

What services or programs are in place to emphasize the importance of health and wellness?Are nursing aides on-site 24 hours a day?Is there a geriatric physician on-site? Other categories include services and amenities, meals, resident agreements and future needs.

Here's a helpful video that talks about assisted living and how to choose the right facility. 

To see learn more about assisted living devices, visit Gracefields.com.