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There are so many assisted living facilities nowadays, and picking one can be quite intimidating. Before exploring these options, make a list of your present and future needs and desires. Maybe you want a place that’s near a shopping complex or a major hospital. Or somewhere close to your children and grandchildren.

 

Another consideration is what features you want in your living space. An extra bedroom for a guest? A kitchenette? As well, think of activities and amenities you might enjoy, such as a salon, an art studio or a pool. 

 

Furthermore, look into safety and assistance features that might be necessary to you now and in the future, specifically if you have Parkinson’s or any other progressive disease.

 

Certainly, it’s important to set a budget before making plans with any facility. You need to set your priorities for this, especially if your financial capacity is limited.

 

What to Look For

 

Once you’ve found an assisted living home that you want, ask the staff for a guided tour. Ask a friend or family member to come with you on the tour so you can get help making a decision.

 

First off, the grounds should be well-maintained and you shouldn’t find any run down or broken areas. There should be no stains, dirt or bad odors. If an odor is coming from an enclosed area, it could indicate there an accident had occurred there. It it’s from a wider area, the problem is probably systemic to the location. Find out more at sandiaviewassistedliving.org.

 

You should also see if there are safety measures in place, like window locks, emergency exit guides, overhead sprinklers, and the like. As well, are the residents well-groomed and do they look happy to be there?  If possible, ask them how long they’ve stayed at the facility and how they feel about it.

 

 

Finding the Right One

 

Whenever you visit an assisted living facility, take note that the people working there will always tell you great things about the place. Of course, they can tell you about their daily operations, but if you are looking for an objective assessment of the community as you should, speak to the residents or their families. You can ask them about things like the competence of the staff or how friendly they are.

 

Another good resource is the long-term care ombudsman in the state or local area where the facility is. They can provide information on any complaints against the home, or, if the place participates in Medicare, its star ratings, which are given after inspections on a home’s health, staffing and care quality. Get started at sandiaviewassistedliving.org.

 

Check out http://www.ehow.com/about_7227201_cost-care-elderly.html if you want to know how much elderly care would cost you.