Trying to determine whether or not a loved one needs Assisted Living can result in mixed emotions. Feelings of guilt are common and can often cloud a person’s judgment. One might think that it is better for their loved one to stay out of Assisted Living for as long as possible. However, this can be a costly mistake and too many people wait for too long.
A common scenario that we encounter is mom or dad is living on their own. They end up falling and have to be admitted to the hospital. They are advised that they cannot send their mom or dad back home. They are now put in the situation where they have to rush to try to find an Assisted Living facility. Their ability to find the best place is now severely limited.
We see these kinds of situations all too often and want to encourage people to take a proactive versus reactive approach towards Assisted Living. It doesn’t have to take a major accident to recognize that it is time for a loved one to move into Assisted Living.
Taking a proactive approach will make the transition go better and everyone can feel good about the decision that they made. Most importantly it will increase one’s quality of life and reduce the likelihood of a major accident.
What does a proactive approach towards Assisted Living involve?
- Researching the different Assisted Living & Memory Care homes that are available in
the area. - Touring the facility and interviewing the staff.
- Seeing what type of activities they provide.
- Determining whether the administrator and staff have the ability to really get to know their residents and the family members.
- Utilizing the daycare and respite program to see if it will be a good fit.
- Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner to determine the quality of food.
- Participating in the activities.
- Assessing the environment.
- Does it feel like a home or a large facility?
- Will your loved one get lost in the crowd?
- Is it clean and tidy?
- Is there an inviting and safe environment to enjoy the outdoors?
Call 208.475.1805 to learn more about taking a proactive approach towards Assisted Living. The Cottages provides quality Assisted Living, Memory Care, Adult Day Care and Respite services.
We want to hear from you! The Cottages team members have extensive experience in the Assisted Living & Memory Care field. If you have a question that you would like answered, leave a comment and we will answer it in an upcoming blog post.
