Many considerations need to be made when choosing the right assisted living community for yourself or a loved one. The process can prove to be challenging as deciding on the care path for the future often comes with many concerns. When you or a loved one no longer has the capacity to tend to their own needs, it may be time to start looking at an assisted living program that best matches their personal needs. Assisted living differs from independent living in several ways and if you wish to find out more on what you can come to expect, here are some questions to ask at an assisted living community. But first, let us understand what exactly is assisted living.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living programs are designed on the foundation of offering older adults with personalized care within a community setting. Older adults who have basic healthcare needs will come to benefit from the support and care offered in an assisted living program. Assisted living communities are developed around making the lives of residents so much easier and more comfortable while also offering them with plenty of socialization opportunities and wellness programs.
Some common amenities in an assisted living program:
- Housekeeping
- Transportation
- Catered dining
- Laundry
- Medication management
- Dressing and grooming
- Toileting
- Mobility
How Does Your Retirement Community Welcome a New Resident?
You want to make sure that the team members make an effort to get to know their new residents and welcome them with open arms. Ask about the engagement style that you can expect upon becoming a resident there. Understand the type of questionnaires or surveys that the community has to understand their residents better in terms of their personal and healthcare needs. You also want to know how much time you will spend with the team members during your first few weeks there.
What Training Does Your Team Undergo?
Everyone wants what is best for themselves and this is especially crucial when it comes to senior care. By asking what type of training the team members undergo, you can know whether you will have access to reliable support and care throughout your stay there. Ask about their orientation process, evaluations, philosophy, and employment requirements. You may also wish to ask about the number of team members that are available around the clock to render emergency support.
How Many Residents Do You Have?
You can know if you are getting the care and attention you need by determining the team members to resident ratio of the assisted living community. If there are too many residents with too few team members, you may be deprived of close support for all your personal or healthcare needs.
Do You Have a 24/7 Team?
Residents of assisted living communities often require round-the-clock care. Find out if the assisted living community has an on-site 24/7 team to ensure the wellness and health of the residents. You can also ask about the professionals working and whether they are qualified to perform medication management, glucose monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, and more. You want to make sure that you are indeed receiving the exact care that you need.
