Why You (And Your Parents) Might Need Help Choosing An Assisted Living Facility
It's not always an easy process when your parents need to move into an assisted living facility. In a perfect world, you (or your parents) would raise the topic, you would all agree on the best facility, and they would move in. The reality of the situation can be quite different, and sometimes you will need some guidance and general assistance with what can actually be more complicated than you expected. This is why senior living advisors can be of assistance.
Assistance With Research
In the early stages of the process, a senior living advisor functions as a specialized research assistant. They will liaise with you and your parents (who definitely need to be part of the selection process, as much as possible) to determine your family's specific needs. There are a few relevant items that need to be ascertained:
- Your budget (which also factors in any insurance or government assistance).
- The location of the assisted living facility.
- The level of care your parents require (both at present, and also their potential future needs).
These items act as a good starting point for your search, and your senior living advisor can then provide you with a list of facilities that meet your prerequisites.
A Preliminary List
Once you have a preliminary list of suitable facilities, you and your parents can begin the process of elimination. This is when other factors play a role, such as any necessary infrastructure and amenities in the immediate area (including things like public transportation, shopping, dining, and so forth). The activities and amenities offered at the assisted living facility will also help you to determine the suitability of the place, and this covers any sporting or leisure pursuits that the facility offers.
Possible Contenders
After the process of elimination has reduced your list to a few possible contenders, it's time to actually visit them. Your senior living advisor can make the arrangements, allowing you and your parents to inspect several facilities, seeing them for yourself. This lets you and your parents gauge the atmosphere and general environment of the facility, and this should ultimately let you and your parents arrive at a decision (which will hopefully be mutual).
Once you've chosen a spot, your senior living advisor can even help with the bureaucracy of the admissions process, which is the icing on the cake of a process that has already been simplified due to the help provided by your advisor.