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Making the decision to move to an assisted living facility is an event many families face sooner or later, and to make the decision is never easy. Besides the emotional toll it takes from the family members, selecting the right place for your elderly loved one is a choice that is never to be made lightly. Of course, you would want to make sure you are making a well-informed decision that is suited for your loved one.
And if you are here, reading this, chances are you are in that moment of decision-making itself. To help you with this life-changing event, we have put together a list of essential things you need to consider to make sure the senior living facility you are choosing is the best place for your loved one.
Top Things to Consider When Choosing a Senior Living Facility
Here are the five factors you should consider when choosing a senior living facility.
1. Location, location, location
Of course, you would need to keep your loved one as close to you or other family members as possible. This will make visits convenient, keep your loved ones accessible (especially in emergencies), and will be helpful when your family is arranging transportation for important events. When thinking about proximity, look first at the assisted living communities within a 40-minute drive.
If you are torn in deciding between two facilities in the same location, consider the location itself. Here are the important things to ask:
- Is the neighborhood safe?
- How is the local traffic?
- Is there a beach nearby?
- How close is the community to your preferred doctor?
- Are places of worship important to the elderly?
Whether you are looking for a nearby community in your locale or in another state close to your other trusted family members, we have assisted living homes in Oceanside, CA all the way to South Carolina.
2. Size of the community
Choose the senior living facility that is suitable to the needs of the elderly. Having a bigger facility does not automatically mean that care is more professional. On the contrary, seniors and your loved one might prefer a smaller community with fewer residents and staff members. Your family member might enjoy the smaller and intimate crowd or may benefit from the one-on-one situation for an up close and personalized care.
3. Services and amenities available
In your transition to an assisted living community, you will find certain services that are non-negotiable to your senior family member. This is important for you to choose a community that your family member would actually enjoy and that fits naturally to their lifestyle. To find the best place for seniors, balance the services they want and the services that are available. This might be an overwhelming task, but you can look for an organization that could help you find the perfect senior living community.
Here are the important services and amenities you would want to consult with the elderly:
- Access to doctor appointments
- Transportation to places of worship
- Professional caregivers and registered nurses
- Memory care services
- Counseling services
4. Cost and budget
If you are in a situation where money is not an issue, well good for you! However, for the most elderly in America and their families, this is not the reality. In fact, according to Genworth Financial, the average cost of assisted living in 2020 was $4,300. Most seniors use their social benefits to even support their out-of-pocket expenses.
When choosing an assisted living community, the goal is to find the very best you can afford. We know it is hard to put a price on your loved one, it will give you a peace of mind knowing you are doing the best you can.
Just remember, you are not just paying for the roof over their heads, you are also paying for the services and care rendered for your elderly loved one and for the enjoyment of their golden years.
5. Culture in the community
Lastly, pick the assisted living community that encourages plenty of social opportunities and activities for their residents. Make sure that your senior family member is able to make meaningful friendships and create beautiful memories in their stay there. Seeing them enjoy their community will make everything worth it.
Find the community that provides:
- Social meal times with fun events
- Relaxing and recreational opportunities for the seniors to connect with one another
- Gardens, outdoor benches, gazebos, and picnic tables for them to enjoy during good weather
Choose Only the Best
Ultimately, the best way to gauge if the community is a perfect place for seniors is to look at the residents living in them. Are they happy? Are they friends with one another? Are they active? And the only way to see this is to visit assisted living communities yourself.
And while there is a lot of picture-perfect senior living facilities out there, there’s only one that will best suit your elderly loved one. To know where to find this, consult with us, Best Place 4 Seniors, to assess your needs and wants and match them with the best facility available.
If you would like to learn more about assisted living communities in Oceanside, San Marcos, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Niguel. Contact us today and we’d love to show you around!
Recommended Assisted Living Locations:
- Blue Skies of Tri-city – Assisted living
3218 Mira Mesa Ave, Oceanside, CA 92056, United States - Blue Skies of Temecula – Assisted Living
45410 Bayberry Pl, Temecula, CA 92592, United States - Blue Skies of San Marcos – Assisted Living
1119 Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos, CA 92078, United States - Blue Skies of Oceanside – Assisted Living
322 Keyport St, Oceanside, CA 92057, United States - Blue Skies of Laguna Niguel – Assisted Living
25437 Via Estudio, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, United States - Blue Skies of Laguna Hills – Assisted Living
25811 Tree Top Rd, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, United States
