To leave behind a home you have likely lived in for many years and move into an Assisted Living community can be daunting. Worried about not finding a retirement community where you can settle down and feel comfortable in? Let us guide you through some simple steps you can take to search for the best Assisted Living community that suits your needs. Use our evaluation checklist and take your time to find the right one for you or your loved ones.
Assess Your Needs and Wants
Before you can choose an Assisted Living community, you need to evaluate your finances and assess your physical and other daily needs. What amenities or services are important to you in an Assisted Living community? Take a piece of paper, write down your “needs” and “wants” and prioritize your list of requirements. Once you have established exactly what you are looking for, you can start evaluating different retirement communities.
Tour the Assisted Living Community
Shortlist a few retirement communities and schedule a tour so you can visit the place with your loved ones. Check out the senior apartments to see whether you are pleased with the layout of the floor plans, sanitary condition and overall interior design. Observe the safety and security measures that have been put in place. For instance, are there any sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers for a fire emergency? Are there any safety bars installed in the bathrooms? Is the place well-lit?
Walk around the community grounds and determine if you or your loved ones will be comfortable living in the environment. Where possible, request to stay for mealtime or join in an activity to observe the interactions among the team members and residents. In some Assisted Living communities, guests are welcome to stay overnight so they can further assess their future home.
Study the Contract and Fees
Inquire about the monthly fee. Make sure you understand what services are included or excluded from the fee. Any other extra costs should also be accounted for. You do not have to sign the contract immediately too. Bring it home to look at it thoroughly or have an elder law attorney ascertain that every clause in the contract is in order.
Find Out What Services Are Offered
Most importantly, for Assisted Living, you will need personalized care and support for you or your loved ones’ daily living activities. Hence, find out more about the services and amenities that are offered in the retirement community. What kind of activities and events can you partake in? Look at the upcoming activity schedule to see if there are any activities you or your loved one would be interested in. If religious services are important to you, find out if the community offers on-site services.
Some retirement communities offer transportation services when you need to visit your doctor or head out to town. They may also have an on-site doctor or other medical professionals who can attend to your medical needs. Do check if the retirement community provides medication management. Do you need to arrange for delivery of prescriptions and medical supplies or can you buy them from the on-site pharmacy, if any?
Check the Accreditation or License Reports
Several states require licensing for Assisted Living communities. If you are in a state that enforces licenses for Assisted Living, do request to take a look at the inspection reports.
By following our evaluation checklist, you can make an informed decision and select the best Assisted Living community for you or your loved ones today.
