| | | | | 4. Is there a written statement of the philosophy |
| | | | | of eldercare of the facility? |
| Assisted living is an alternative living arrangement | | | | 5. Make more than one trip to each facility you |
| for senior citizens requiring moderate eldercare, | | | | are considering, sometimes unannounced. |
| including help with activities like eating, getting | | | | 6. Try to make some of those trips during |
| dressed, bathing, and using the bathroom as | | | | mealtimes to check out the quality of food and |
| opposed to the more intensive care provided in | | | | service to the residents. |
| nursing homes. This type of care serves as an | | | | 7. Take note of interactions between residents |
| intermediate between in home care for the | | | | and those providing the eldercare. |
| elderly and the eldercare provided by a nursing | | | | 8. Look for other facilities like social, recreational, |
| home. Facilities for this type of living may be in | | | | and spiritual activities based on your interests. |
| connection with retirement communities, nursing | | | | 9. Find out what kind of training caregivers receive |
| homes, home health care agencies, or complexes | | | | and how often they are trained. |
| for senior citizens, or they may be separate | | | | 10. Review state licensing reports. |
| facilities. This type of eldercare is known by many | | | | Researching Assisted Living Centers |
| names, such as residential care, board and care, | | | | You may also wish to consider the following if |
| congregate care, and personal care. | | | | you still have any doubts in your mind regarding |
| | | | | these services: |
| Assisted Living Facilities | | | | Call your state's long-term care ombudsman as |
| When looking for an assisted living facility, you can | | | | well as the local Better Business Bureau to ask |
| usually expect to have your own room or | | | | about recently issued complaints against the |
| apartment, provided meals, a staff of caregivers | | | | facilities you are considering. |
| for support, and some or all of the following | | | | If a facility is connected to a nursing home or |
| services: | | | | home health care agency, you may want to find |
| - housekeeping and laundry | | | | out more its counterpart. You can find information |
| - security | | | | about nursing homes on the Medicare website. |
| - recreational activities and exercise | | | | Assisted Living Financial Considerations for Seniors |
| - transportation | | | | |
| - guidance and monitoring of health care | | | | Another aspect of assisted living facilities to |
| - reminders about or help taking medication | | | | consider is cost. Assisted living is generally less |
| - support with dressing, bathing, and eating | | | | expensive than nursing home care, but more |
| Choosing the Right Assisted Living Community | | | | expensive the in home care for the elderly. |
| It is really very important to choose the right | | | | Another thing to know is that there may be fees |
| facility for you. Each facility may have different | | | | not included in the basic rate. It will be helpful to |
| ideologies of caring for the elderly, so not every | | | | figure out how much extra you will have to pay |
| facility may be a match for the kind of care and | | | | to live in a certain home. |
| services you are looking for. When searching for | | | | |
| eldercare in an assisted living facility, there are a | | | | Insurance may help cover some of these costs, |
| number of ways to determine whether a certain | | | | but usually charges are covered primarily by the |
| place will provide you with the comfort, security, | | | | senior citizens who decide to live in these |
| and level of care you need: | | | | residences or family members responsible for |
| | | | | their eldercare. |
| 1. Think about your future needs and determine | | | | It is important to consider the different options in |
| whether the facility can provide the right kind of | | | | eldercare. If cost is a concern, it may be helpful |
| care for those needs. | | | | to consider in home care for senior citizens. This |
| 2. Figure out access to facility- whether the facility | | | | type of eldercare may provide sufficient care for |
| is near family, friends, and shopping centers or | | | | your needs in the comfort of your own home. If |
| other businesses you'd like to walk to. | | | | the degree of eldercare provided by in home care |
| 3. Are there admission and retention policies that | | | | or an assisted living facility does not meet your |
| do not allow people with severe cognitive | | | | needs, consider a nursing home. |
| impairments or physical disabilities to live there? | | | | |