Moving to assisted living can be a challenging phase to go through not just for the older adult but also for their family. Deciding when to make the move is tough, but once that is resolved, the next step is to choose the best assisted living in Roanoke, VA in hopes of leading a much more enriching retirement. You want your aging loved one to receive the care they need and the services that help support their mental and physical health. Follow these tips below to make a well-informed decision.
Community Location
The importance of location depends on every older adult and their personal preference. Some may prefer to stay near their original place of residence to be close to family and friends, and within familiar surroundings. Their loved ones can also visit them conveniently from time to time. For others, they would like to explore a new environment that is close to amenities or attractions. Hence, it all depends on what the older individual prefers.
Community Size
Assisted living communities vary in size. Some are much smaller with just four to ten senior apartments whereas others can accommodate up to 100 residents. Find out the team-to-resident ratio to ensure that your aging loved one can receive close attention for their personal and medical needs. A lower ratio simply translates to residents getting close supervision at all times so they can look forward to leading a worry-free retirement.
Community Services
Residents of an assisted living community stand to enjoy a wide array of on-site services. Some may require assistance with their activities of daily living that can include grooming, bathing, toileting, dressing, feeding, and overall mobility. Others may need 24/7 nursing services. Depending on the personal and medical needs of your aging loved one, moving them to an assisted living community that offers the services they need can help them live much healthier. For older adults with memory-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, providing them with access to specialized care can help improve their quality of life and slow down the progression of their diseases.
Continuous Care
Some assisted living communities offer dual lifestyle options. This means that residents can easily transition from assisted living to memory care in one community. This provides them with continuous care throughout their retirement to ensure all their personal and medical needs are fulfilled up to expectations.
Community Cost
Cost is often one of the main factors that families consider before moving their aging loved one to assisted living. The budget that families have in mind will also help them select the type of accommodation, amenities, and services that their aging loved one stands to enjoy. Families can inquire with the retirement community of their choice to learn more about various financial assistance programs to help finance the cost of assisted living. Medicaid and veteran benefits are some of the most common financial assistance programs that benefit the local elderly population. Other modes of financing include reverse mortgage, life insurance, long-term care insurance, and bridging loans.