Things To Think About When Choosing Senior Living Accommodations

As you or a loved one starts to get older, you may find that an assisted living community is the next logical step. These places can help make life easier for you and your loved one with everyday care and support. They can also provide opportunities for socialization and regular excursions that add variety and interest to life.

 

If you’re concerned about choosing the right location for your loved one, you’re in good company. Many families struggle to locate the ideal assisted living facilities. It’s a big decision, so it’s important to think long and hard about it. CrownPointe Communities outlines a few specific things to consider when choosing an assisted living facility for someone you love.

 

Does Your Loved One Need Special Care?

 

Does your loved one require special care? If your family member struggles with memory loss or incontinence, not just any assisted living community will do. You’ll need to make sure any location you consider is capable of providing the required level of care.

 

If you have any doubts about whether or not a certain location can give the level of care your family member needs, just ask them. You should schedule tours at a variety of assisted living communities anyway, so take the opportunity to learn as much as you can about any special services they may offer while you’re there. If you feel like a location won’t be able to give your loved one the level of care he or she needs, move on to the next one.

 

How Will You Pay for Care?

 

It’s essential to know in advance how you’ll pay for the care your family member needs. The cost of living in a senior living community can add up quickly. Do you have access to sufficient funds? Are family members pooling their financial resources together to help support your loved one’s care? Or, will you need to rely on Medicaid? As AgingCare.com notes, there are many options available when it comes to financing, including using private funds — often a combination of savings, Social Security benefits, pension payments, and retirement accounts. There are also government programs and financial tools that can help pay for assisted living.

 

You may need to consider selling the loved one’s home so you can put the money from the sale toward the assisted living community where he or she is going to live. If you aren’t sure how much you can get out of the home, take some time to research how much you’ll make by selling. You can also hire a realtor to help ensure you get the best price for the home. Try to keep all of your important documents and paperwork organized by scanning them into PDF files. What’s more, you can use online tools to combine PDFs, which will make it easier to find the information you need, when you need it.

 

And don’t forget about other expenses, including the cost of the actual move. Searching for and hiring the right mover within your budget is made easy by searching online for movers and reading reviews to find reliable moving companies. Start by reading up on customer reviews, and when it comes time to discuss estimates be sure to ask whether they’re experienced with senior moves.

 

Who Will Prepare Meals?

 

According to MedlinePlus, nutrition is incredibly important, even as you age. Some seniors will need to have more protein in their meals. Or they will need fewer calories, but still enough nutrients. When looking for a senior home community, it’s important to keep in mind who is preparing meals for your loved one. Is your loved one able to cook meals, or will you need to find a community that offers meals to its residents? Or, you may even need to consider hiring someone to cook three square meals each day for your family member.

 

It’s important to make sure your family member is able to live in an environment that is welcoming, safe, and provides sufficient care. With enough research and thought, you can find the ideal living situation for your loved one. To learn more about the services and amenities that CrownPointe Communities offers, please call (765) 759-0230.