Your elderly loved one might require an extra hand in his or her daily activities. You’ve both discussed that assisted living is the best choice. As you begin to research assisted living for your loved one, you’ll have concerns about their happiness, safety, and well-being. You want to choose the most suitable assisted living community for your loved one.
With so many choices available, it can be difficult to make a decision. Instead of just browsing photos and looking at reviews online, you decided to schedule a visit to some of your shortlisted choices. After all, seeing everything in person is the best way to evaluate which is the right community. Here’s a checklist that you might need when touring an assisted living community with your loved one.
What Is Your First Impression?
Usually, tours to an assisted living community begins with someone greeting you at the lobby. He or she will be your guide and start introducing you to the community. Do you have a good impression of your guide? Is he or she friendly and knowledgeable about elderly care? Do you feel like you’re listening to a sales pitch? Your guide should also take initiative to ask about your needs and what you’d like to see.
While first impressions don’t mean everything, they can mean a lot when choosing an assisted living for your loved one. If they sound like a salesperson who isn’t interested in answering your questions, or they make you feel uncomfortable in any way, you might want to reconsider if this is the right community for your loved one.
See The Living Space
Make sure to see the different types of housing options available. Does the community offer apartments, shared or private rooms? Is the space comfortable and suitable for your loved one? Check out the available options to help you make a better decision. Your loved one will be spending lots of time here so it’s important to choose a suitable living space.
Visit The Surroundings
The area around the assisted living community is just as important. You’d want to make sure the neighborhood is safe and not too noisy so your loved one can relax peacefully. Add cleanliness to your list. You don’t want your parent to be living in a dirty, unhygienic area that can deteriorate their health. Are there lots of greenery around? You’ve heard about wonderful things nature does to heal the body and soul. It’d be a bonus if there are many green spaces and natural attractions which your loved one can enjoy.
Interact With Residents
Approach residents living in the community and speak with them about their experience. Spend some time listening to their stories to get a sense of whether they enjoy living here. Also, find the chance to speak with other team members from the community to get a better picture of how things work here. They can provide a different perspective from your guide, and that could be useful in helping you make judgments on whether your loved one can receive the best care.
