How do you find the right community for your loved one?

Finding the right senior care community is difficult and emotional, especially when you have so many options to choose from. But where do you start? There are many things to consider before making your choice. 

First and foremost, listen to your loved one and find out what’s important to them. Is it the dining experience, the activity program, the closet space, the outdoor living area? The key is to listen with your head and your heart to what your loved one finds important. While taking the family (the spouse, yourself, your siblings) into account is also necessary, the primary focus must be what is best for the senior.

Second, understand what specific kind of care your loved one needs. What does each community have to offer that meets these needs? There are many community types, most of which are licensed the same by the state under an RCFE (Residential Care for the Elderly) license. Residential Care for the Elderly includes assisted living communities, memory care assisted living, and licensed personal care homes, often referred to as board and care. There is also a small segment of communities that are more retirement living focused, called independent living.

Here is how each senior living options can help your senior loved one.

Assisted Living Communities 

Assisted Living communities offer a wide range of services, including hospice care. Much like the independent living communities, they include all of the basic peripheral services but with the added support of twenty-four-hour care staff hired by the community. Caregivers can assist with daily living activities such as dressing, bathing, grooming, medication management, special diets, etc. The goal here is to keep the resident as independent as possible for as long as possible while helping them with those tasks they are no longer safe to do on their own. Assisted living communities encourage socializing through scheduled activities and shared spaces like in the dining room, the lobby, activity room, gardens, courtyards, patios, library/computer rooms, etc. A common misunderstanding about assisted living communities is that they are like a skilled nursing facility. But the truth is that we outsource home health services like physical and occupational therapies, and we do not have registered nurses or physicians on-site twenty-four hours a day. The advantage of living in an assisted living community is that it offers a much more social environment with a small oversight component, versus a nursing home that is a more medical model with a small social component added in. Family members have peace of mind knowing someone can be readily available for a loved one’s needs at any time of the day or night, but their loved one will still have their own private accommodations and privacy.

Memory Care 

 Memory care communities are similar to assisted living communities but focus more on intensive and specialized care for people with memory issues. Memory care communities are designed for those exhibiting a cognitive decline in memory and other functions. Most at this stage have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and or related dementia. These communities provide a safe and secure environment, and they are usually smaller and more intimate in size. They also provide nutritious, balanced meals along with monitoring for hydration. Memory care communities even have a wellness team to keep an eye on any signs of an underlying health issue that may need attention. Most importantly, they offer life engagement programs to stimulate each individual to live a full life.

Independent Living 

Independent Living communities typically provide supportive services such as meals, housekeeping, laundry services, scheduled transportation, and activities. They also include the utilities in the monthly rent. Research shows that seniors who live an active and social life have a higher satisfaction rate and are at a lower risk for isolation and depression. Restaurant-style dining is a prime example of this. Not only does it provide socialization, but research shows that we eat more calories when we eat with someone rather than eat alone.

Board and Care  

Board and care or licensed personal care homes are homes in the neighborhood that have been licensed by the state to take just five or six residents at a time. They offer primarily private rooms, but some have shared rooms, too. Care homes provide the same basic amenities as assisted living communities, but on a smaller scale. They usually cater to a frailer population, like those that need someone in closer proximity regularly. The downside to home care versus assisted living is that they are NOT required to have an awake staff on the overnight shift. Their staff is usually sleeping at night, so if your loved one needs regular interaction or redirection overnight, a care home might not be the best option.

At the end of the day, this will be your loved ones forever home, so it is important that it meets their needs, and they LOVE it! As a family member, you can help make this next stage in their life as comfortable, gratifying, and safe as possible. By taking the time to consider your loved ones wants and needs, you can ensure you find the best possible option.

Learn more about Calson communities and see what we have to offer, click here.