When a senior in your life starts to need a bit more help in the day to day, you might start thinking about advanced care options. But whether you’re thinking about hiring in-home care for your aging parent or looking into elder care from Seniors Helping Seniors, there are a few important factors that should always guide your choice. While talking to your parent about making the change is a great place to start, you’ll want to figure out what’s best for you and your parent in the long run in terms of pricing, facilities, and senior health options. That’s why knowing the right questions to ask and understanding the difference between the many types of senior care homes on offer is crucial if you’re trying to make the best decision for your senior’s long-term needs. If you’re looking for care options and don’t know where to start, here are a few things to think about when visiting senior care communities near you.
1. Consider Pricing
Senior care, whether it involves moving your parent into a full-service facility or hiring some in-home help, can run the gamut price-wise. While many nursing homes and care centers that feature on-site medical staff tend to be on the pricier side, hiring in-home carers or nurses to spend a bit of time with your senior during the week can be a great way to make sure your parent is getting the help they need without causing you any extra financial stress. However, if your parent is getting to a point where they need more help than an in-home caretaker can provide, you’ll want to choose the best assisted living facility without having to worry about the cost. When it comes time to start seriously looking for extended care options, a great way to get the issue of money out of the way is to have a serious talk with the rest of the family about how much everyone can afford to pay forward. Once you have a clear sense of what everyone can contribute, you’ll be able to make a much more educated decision about what you can afford.
2. Consider Medical Services
If your parent just needs a bit of help around the house or is starting to have some memory trouble, starting out with an in-home caretaker or service can be a great way to help them stay on track and deal with daily tasks. However, if your parent is dealing with a specific medical issue that impacts their day-to-day life, you’ll need to look into care options that either specialize in this kind of treatment or offer great options for patients seeking extra help. You’ll also want to think about choosing a facility that will be able to help your parent in the long run, should other health issues come up. For instance, many assisted living facilities are connected to full-service medical units, while all nursing homes are defined by consistent medical care and round-the-clock service.
3. Check the Recreation Calendar
One of the most important things to consider when picking a home or care service for your parent is its relationship to community and independence. When visiting any facility, take a look at the programs and activities offered and ask yourself a few questions. How dedicated is this facility to making sure my parent stays active and involved in the community? Will my parent be able to stay engaged, interested, and inspired by the recreational activities offered? Are there plenty of common areas and opportunities for unstructured social activity? Is social involvement important to your parent? Even if your senior is more interested in solitary pursuits, you should be on the lookout for places that offer a range of different activities and opportunities. For instance, does the facility have a garden or access to one? Does it have a gym or a regimented exercise schedule? If you want your parent to be happy, you’ll need to choose a place that offers a range of options, not just a few.
4. Choose the Right Location
Whether you live close to your parent or far away, you’ll want to choose an option that gives your senior the greatest possible mobility and the best options in terms of medical care, overall health, and outlook. For instance, many seniors not only prefer but need to be placed in warmer climates as they age in order to avoid dealing with harsh winters. Other seniors prefer to live in a facility that’s close to the people they love most. Ask your senior what’s most important to them before making a decision.