Finding the most suitable senior home for yourself or a loved one can be overwhelming. One search on the internet for “the best assisted living facilities near me” can get you over twenty pages of results in a second. So, how can you narrow it down and find the perfect one for you? Here are our tips:
1. Know Your Priority
Every elderly has different priorities when it comes to what they want in a senior home. Some may want to look at the facility’s cost or location, while others are more concerned about the services and amenities.
Before doing your research, it’s essential to establish your priorities first because it’s extremely rare to find a community with every little thing you want in it. So, you need to decide what factor goes at the top of your list to help you make a good decision later on.
2. Get Reliable Recommendations
The most reliable recommendation you can get is not from Google or Bing. It is actually from your trusted loved ones, friends, and even longtime neighbors. So reach out to these reliable people and ask if they or someone they know has any senior living experience.
Additionally, you can get help from your doctor or a family advisor regarding a suitable assisted living facility. Chances are, they know a community that can cater to your medical needs, as well as recreational ones.
Once you get the recommendations you need, it’s time to surf the net and get some basic information about these assisted living facilities near you. Some of the things you should initially look for include:
Reviews about the senior community from current or past residents and their families.
Pictures of the facility and the services they provide.
The kind of living options they provide.
Contact number and current address.
Don’t hesitate to contact your prospective community to get your initial assessment.
3. Visit Your Top Choices
After visiting their web pages or calling the community, it’s time to narrow down your search to at least three prospective facilities. You can then set out to schedule a tour or community visits to your top choices.
Make sure to seek a loved one or friend to accompany you during the tour. They might be able to observe some things that you might miss. Plus, family members also want to know the kind of community you’re getting into.
4. Ask Questions
Don’t hesitate to ask questions or voice out concerns about something you observed during the tour. This is an opportunity for you to get all the information you need to make a great decision later, so make good use of it. Some of the things you can ask about include:
The kind of medical assistance they can provide to their residents.
How many residents are here, and how many staff care for each one.
Do they have round-the-clock assistance and staff presence?
The security and safety measures they have.
Do they have on-site healthcare personnel?
You can also ask about their billing policy, the amenities they provide, and the activities they prepared for their residents.