Are you looking for a retirement home? Do you think it’s time that you started to think about assisted living for a loved one? In this article, we discuss some of the benefits of considering assisted living for your loved one. And tips for choosing the ideal retirement homes.
Assisted living and how it can benefit your loved one
Assisted living is a long-term care option for the elderly who need assistance with their daily routines. But would still like to maintain their independence. The facilities provide seniors with personal care support services such as medication management, meals, transportation, bathing, and dressing.
Assisted living and retirement homes offer numerous benefits to your loved ones. Some of them include:
- Adopt to changing needs
Assisted facilities and retirement homes offer easy adaptability to the varying needs of their residents. An individual’s needs can drastically shift as they grow older, making it crucial to have care facilities in place that can get readjusted. For instance, if you could pick your favorite dress and wear it, but struggled to wear your shoes the next day, it would make more sense to have someone there to assist you.
While the example may seem insignificant, it should not get ignored. Many seniors hurt themselves and struggle completing tasks as easy as wearing their favorite dress.
- Increased safety
As we advance in age, various tasks become a safety concern. Effortless tasks, like walking a flight of stairs can bring about challenges that could get countered with by enrolling in a retirement or assisted home.
Instead of entirely relying on the 911 helpline in case of an accident or emergency, these facilities avail round-the-clock care. Trained caregivers are on standby daily to assist your loved ones. That gives you peace of mind.
- Promotes socialization
For many seniors, the shortage of social activities and friends is the most challenging part of growing older. Whether an introvert or a social butterfly, having the option to interact with friends as you please is one of the perks of living in a retirement home or an assisted facility. The best facility will offer outings, social events, and health and fitness activities to help seniors have fun and socialize.
- Focus on nutrition
Between the stress of cooking by yourself and the pleasure of ordering take out, a considerable number of seniors put less focus on having healthy meals as they grow older. The staff at the retirement or assisted facilities help seniors to avoid malnutrition. They prepare their meals with the nutrition of your loved one in mind.
Additionally, they help to reduce the instances of seniors encountering an accident while cooking.
- Access to transportation and physical activities
Seniors who are isolated in their own homes and are limited in terms of transportation often find it challenging to stay active. Retirement and assisted living facilities not only offer seniors access to wellness and fitness activities. But also a reliable way to move around from one place to another.
Whether it’s having an evening work or participating in a physical activities class, seniors get to stay active.
That discussed, how do you choose the ideal retirement home?
- Inquire about recreational activities
Before choosing the ideal facility for your loved one, you need to find out the types of social, cultural, and educational activities they offer. Do they avail transport of having to depend on public means? Is there a staff member who deals with planning recreational activities for the seniors? Is there an equipped fitness room?
All these are some of the crucial questions you should ask before settling for a retirement home. Remember, the more facilities, the more comfortable your loved one will be.
- Fee information
Another way to choose the ideal facility for your loved one is by looking at the fee structure. Find out what the different fees are and if they are worth your consideration. Are they subject to regular and random increments? What conditions can lead to an increase?
Do thorough research on the frequency of fee increase over the past years. That should guide you as to whether you will afford to have your loved one in the facility or not. Also, consider the financial perks and disadvantages of the contract options that retirement or assisted home offers.
- The community
The third consideration is the community surrounding the facility or the facility in itself. Being familiar with the neighboring and surrounding area might aid your loved one to transition effortlessly. Settle for a community aligned with your beliefs and values.
Choose one that makes your loved one feel at home. And that which has a lot to offer.
- Facility’s reviews and background
The reviews of the facility should help you settle for an ideal one. Find the records of the accomplishment of your most preferred establishment. You want your loved one to move to a home with positive reviews and one that is known to offer the best home caregiving services. You do not intend someone you love to end up in a facility full of scandals and negativity.
Check online reviews, and do not forget to ask for referrals from the area or people who knowledge about the facility.
- Services offered
Another tip that will help you choose the best establishment is by looking at the services they offer. You cannot enroll your loved one in a facility that does not give the services your loved one is dependent on.
As you carry on with your search, check out for the dining options, home maintenance services, wellness programs, and local transportation.
The best facility offers comfort, stability, and peace of mind. For this reason, an establishment that gives your loved one an enhanced quality of life is the best.
- What is life like for seniors within the facility?
As mentioned above, the ideal facility will offer you and your loved one peace of mind. If it serves all their personal needs and gives the best assistance, then you can settle for it.
Tour around the retirement home to ensure that its residents are happy and content. They should look well cared for and have access to all the social amenities. You want to feel confident that the facility is ideal for your loved one.
Conclusion
Choosing a retirement home from many available is a long and daunting process that should not get taken lightly. To refrain from making rash decisions, you need to begin your search early enough. The tips discussed above will give you clarity and guidance while choosing the ideal facility for your loved one.
All the best!
