About 1 million older adults live in assisted living facilities.
It’s a difficult decision to put your loved one into assisted care. You want to make sure that they receive the highest quality care possible. That can be hard to do when there are so many assisted living services to choose from.
Keep reading to discover the most important questions to ask before choosing assisted living facilities for your loved one.
1. Does the Facility Provide Specialized Care?
Does your loved one need specialized care for dementia or a chronic problem? You want to make sure that the facility is prepared to handle your loved one’s needs. Certain assisted living facilities specialize in caring for dementia patients.
Work with your loved one’s doctor to understand their pressing needs so you can find the right facility. Consulting with professionals and doing personal research is very important, as you may find your loved one would be better suited in a group home vs assisted living facility.
2. What Is the License Number of the Facility?
Assisted living facilities need to be licensed to operate. Most of the laws that dictate the licensing requirements are done at the state level.
You want to ask the assisted living facility what the license number is and then look it up through your state’s department of health or human services.
3. How Much Does It Cost?
Assisted living isn’t free, and the best facilities can be pretty expensive. Assisted living costs can be up to $6000 a month. Medicare typically doesn’t cover living in assisted living facilities, so you’ll need to find other ways to pay.
There may be state and federal programs available. Certain assisted living facilities may offer payment assistance. You need to make sure that you understand the costs, what’s included, and your financial responsibilities.
4. What Is the Caregiver Turnover Rate?
You want to be able to trust the level of care that your loved one receives. It can be a little unnerving if they see a new face because of high turnover rates at the facility.
Being a caregiver is a stressful job, which is why the assisted living industry has a high turnover rate of about 29%. Some facilities do a better job managing the stress of staff members, and that’s reflected in their turnover rate.
5. What Activities and Amenities Are Included?
You don’t want your loved one to be sitting in their room all day long. Older adults are often plagued by loneliness and isolation. One of the benefits of choosing assisted living is that there are other people to interact with.
The facility should have activities for residents and provide amenities that encourage residents to connect.
Know What to Ask Before Choosing Assisted Living for Your Loved One
It’s hard seeing a loved one decline, and sometimes you need an assisted living facility to be able to tend to their needs. Choosing assisted living facilities takes time, but you can ask the right questions to make sure you pick the best facility for your loved one.
These questions will help you find the perfect assisted living facility. For more life-changing articles, head over to the other sections of our site.