Every senior deserves the best retirement. However, not every senior requires the same level of care or has the same desires and needs. When choosing the right assisted living facility, it’s important to determine what your priorities are, and which place best suits them.
With a lot of options available, it can feel overwhelming to prioritize what you are looking for. Below are three tips to help you determine what you are looking for and which assisted living community is right for you.
1. Assess What Level of Care is Needed
Different assisted living communities offer different types of care. Your level of care will depend on what stage of life you or a loved one is in. This will primarily be determined by how many activities of daily living can be completed without assistance, as well as if any additional safety or security is needed.
Some may require no additional assistance and want the feeling of independent living while still in the context of a community. Others need 24-hour care and help with bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, or mobility. Does your loved one need help with medication? Do they need help remembering to take medication and eat nutritious meals? Do they need help using the bathroom? If your loved one needs additional help, check to see of the place you are considering offers 24-hour care.
Some seniors have Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia and need a more secure environment and special support. Does this assisted living community offer memory care? Choosing the right assisted living community will depend on what type of help a senior needs and whether the community you are considering has the staff, programming, and the infrastructure to support them.
2. Compare Price Points
Some places are more expensive than others. How will you pay for the amenities? Some communities work hard to make care affordable, while others don’t offer programs designed to help reduce the cost of care. Look for a community that has resources and someone to help assist you with financial aid.
Affordable care doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality of care. If financial aid is necessary, ask if the senior living community offers it or accepts veteran’s benefits or the state’s long term care Medicaid reimbursement. Consider long-term care insurance as well.
3. Ask to Tour Places in Your Area
If you have places you are considering, call ahead and ask to visit. Most places offer tours of the community. Make a list of questions to ask, such as: What kind of social activities are there? Is there nursing on staff on-site? Is transportation offered to nearby places for reasons of enrichment? This will help clarify if your top choices are truly the right fit and which one best fits your lifestyle.
When it’s time to choose a loving assisted living or memory care community, visit Yuma Senior Living. Our residents receive comprehensive and compassionate care. Simply give us a call at (928) 388-6858, and our Community Ambassador will schedule an onsite tour at your convenience.