Are you thinking of touring an assisted living community for your loved one? Allow us at SummerHouse Vista Shores to tell you what you should look out for.
Affordability
Cost is one of the most important factors to consider while selecting an assisted living home. You do not want your loved ones to become attached to a community that is out of your price range.
Consult a financial consultant to see how your loved ones might manage their retirement funds or sell assets to offset housing expenses. If you are going to pay for it, ensure that you and your family agree on the maximum amount you are willing to spend.
Read Reviews
Your family can use online reviews to narrow down the top assisted living communities in your region. Reviews are useful for providing first-hand and second-hand experiences of life in an assisted care home.
Everything from poor encounters with personnel to the grade of the cuisine provided at dinner is discussed by reviewers. However, ratings are not everything. You should still arrange a visit to the facility to see it for yourself.
Negative feedback might simply indicate that the community was not a suitable fit for a different family. Your loved ones may enjoy the dinners that the other family despises. Find out what works and what does not, for your loved ones. If you come across anything concerning, such as allegations of neglect or abuse, go on to the next assisted living community.
It does not make sense to put your loved ones in a possibly dangerous situation when there are so many assisted living communities to choose from.
Talk to the Staff
It is not unusual to want the personnel at an assisted living community to treat your loved ones with the same amount of care and attention that you do.
Employees who appear to like their job and have a positive relationship with the residents are evidence of a caring atmosphere for your loved ones. Observe non-tour staff members to learn about how they engage with residents.
Discuss with your guide any negative reviews you may have seen online. If they are cognizant of the problems, inquire about their intentions to address them. You should be able to discern how they handle disagreement in the facility based on their answer. Whether they are dismissive or solution-oriented is revealed by their reaction.
Avoid assisted living communities that do not have a defined conflict resolution policy. A dismissive or unpleasant employee is likely to treat your family’s worries in the same way.
Meal Quality
Serving your loved one’s favorite dinner once a week increases their quality of life significantly. Discuss any dietary restrictions or preferences with the personnel to see what alternatives are available for your loved ones. Ask to view the food to see how they manage food portions. If residents are hungry outside of dinner, you will want to find out if they can obtain seconds or snacks. For somebody with a huge appetite, this may make a major impact.
