There’s no doubt that your loved one cannot continue to live alone. That means it’s time to consider alternatives. You’ll find that there are facilities offering several different types of living arrangements. As you approach one of these senior placement services, be prepared to answer some questions. Your responses will make it easier to identify the type of setting that would provide the care that your loved one needs.
What Health Issues Does Your Loved One Have at Present?
Early in the discussion, there will be a question about the health of your loved one. Specifically, are there chronic or short-term issues that will require some attention? The goal is to assess the loved one’s current state of health and identify which options for assisted living would be best.
Perhaps your loved one deals with an emotional illness like depression. Perhaps a chronic condition like type 2 diabetes is part of what your loved one lives with each day. Maybe your loved one is beginning to become a little forgetful. Anything that you can provide in the way of information will make it easier to select the right type of living arrangement.
What Sort of Care is Needed to Help Manage Those Conditions?
Along with discussions about health conditions, there’s also the need to address the type of care that may be necessary. Perhaps your loved one needs to observe a specific type of diet. It may be that your loved one needs someone to ensure medications are taken on time every day. There may be the need to provide help with tasks like bathing.
The level of care needed makes a difference in the type of facility chosen. Some patients need basic care like prepared meals, someone to do the cleaning, and possibly help with taking a shower. Others may need more comprehensive help. If so, then the choice of living facility will vary.
How Mobile is Your Loved One?
How well can your loved one get around? If it’s possible to manage well using a cane or walker, certain types of facilities will be fine. Someone who uses a wheelchair may need a facility with certain features. Those who have relatively little mobility will need placement in a facility where there’s more help with getting in and out of bed and moving around the space.
You may find that some senior placement services provide multiple facilities that cater to people with different needs. This is a good thing for you, since it means your loved one may not need to leave that facility as his or her mobility decreases. Instead, it may mean making a move from one part of the facility to another area. This ensures it’s still possible to maintain the friendships made and not have to adjust to totally new surroundings.
What Features and Amenities Would Help Your Loved One Be Happier?
Just about every patient will have something that would make their transition to assisted living a little easier. It could be something as simple as being able to bring along some of their own furnishings. Perhaps a room with plenty of natural light would be desirable. The type of activities offered at the facility may also make the space more welcoming.
By providing information about what your loved one likes in terms of surroundings, hobbies, and other interests, it will be easier to identify the amenities and features that are most likely to receive favorable attention. Those in turn will help the loved one feel at home faster.
Remember that your goal is to select a facility where you loved one receives the attention needed and also has the chance to be happy. With help from the right placement service, you can achieve both goals/