If it seems likely that your love
d one will need to move into an assisted living community at some future point, your best course of action is to start researching and planning for this move – sooner rather than later. Though it’s no fun to think about aging parents, ignoring it – and not putting in place a plan – won’t make the reality of old age go away. Important decisions made without due diligence or in a moment of crisis can often turn out to be regrettable choices. So do some advance planning and help your loved one make this transition more easily.
What is assisted living?
First, make sure you understand what assisted living entails and who is a good candidate for this community type. Assisted living falls between an independent living community and a nursing facility in terms of the care level offered. If your loved one will eventually need help with the basic activities of daily living – walking, bathing, dressing, grooming, medication management, toileting – then this type of community is a good choice. But if your loved one has a serious condition requiring specialized care, then a more intensive care community might be needed. Note though, that such communities increasingly provide Alzheimer’s care and/or skilled nursing.
Where does mom want to live?
Before you look at costs and amenities, think about where mom will want to live once she transitions to assisted living. If she lives near you, it’s likely to be a nearby assisted living community. But if mom lives far from you and other family members, but close to lifelong friends and in a familiar town or city, you need to gently start a conversation about whether moving to a new locale is an option she will consider.
What is affordable?
It’s important to get a clear understanding of what senior living communities in your chosen area cost and to know what you and your loved one can afford. There are some good financial tools available that help you sort out your loved one’s income sources - pensions, social security, insurance coverage, private sources, etc. – that can be used to pay for long-term care. If you find that family members will need to supplement mom or dad’s income to pay for assisted living, then by all means start that conversation with siblings or other relatives so no misunderstandings arise down the road.
What amenities are important for dad?
Once you get a good sense of where dad wants to live and how much he can afford, then talk about the amenities that are important to him. Ideally, your chosen community will offer a lifestyle that permits dad to live much like he did when he was independent. Think about the key attributes that are important and that you can use to make your community selection. When you visit different communities bring along a worksheet so you can note the various attributes and then use these worksheets to rank the communities.
Where can I get information about assisted living communities?
There are a wide range of good sites on the internet to assist you as you begin evaluating different communities. Here are three good resources to check out:
http://www.medicare.gov/LTCPlanning/Home.asp
Planning ahead, talking with family and your loved one, researching and doing community visits will better prepare you for future decisions related to senior housing – so don’t delay! Tell us how you went through this important process.
