When it’s time to move your loved one into an assisted living community, look for the right one that meets their every need. Retirement communities are not built the same as they come in different sizes and offer diverse features and amenities. The pricing also varies from one community to another. Since you are familiar with your loved one’s needs, the best way to choose the right fit is to tour the community personally. Read ahead to learn useful tips to guide you when touring an assisted living community.
Pay Close Attention to the Environment
The first thing to take note of is the state of the building and grounds. Is the environment well-maintained? How clean is the parking lot, hallway and the entire landscape? Besides cleanliness, is the community attractive? What are the apartments like? Do they fit your loved one’s lifestyle? What are the natural lighting and interior lighting? To get accurate answers to your questions, it’s best to schedule your tour on an off day rather than visiting the community during an open event.
Observe How Staffs Treat Visitors and Residents
Starting with when you entered the community, did you get a warm welcome? Do staff interact warmly with residents and one another warmly? Pay close attention to how the staff treats the residents when they think no one’s watching. Be observant to the response and behavior you get from the staff of the community as well as how the residents.
Seek Feedback From Residents
While you are in the community, make it a priority to speak to the residents and ask them about their experience living in the community. Ask questions about the staff and how they treat residents. This way you can be sure whether your loved one will receive good treatment when they move there. When speaking to a resident, ask how long they have lived in the community and if they enjoy their stay there. Likewise, ask how attentive and friendly caregivers are to each resident.
Explore the Life Enrichment Programs
Due to mobility concerns, many aging adults often withdraw from fun activities. As such, assisted living communities offer several life enrichment programs for their residents, in order to give room for socialization. This gives the residents a chance to have fun while engaging in fun activities that can help to improve their overall well-being. These life enrichment programs will help them connect with other residents of the community and help them make new friends. Therefore, ensure that your ideal community offers several fun activities for residents with cognitive and mobility concerns.
Sample a Meal
While on your tour, be sure to sample a meal to know how delicious and nutritious their meal plan is and how it fits the dietary needs of your loved one. Check out the menu to see if there are several options to choose from and pay attention to the atmosphere of the dining room to ensure comfortability.
Ask About Safety and Security
Safety and Security are one of the most important features to look out for, especially if it is one of the major reasons why you want to move your loved one into assisted living. Check if there are handrails throughout the building to help residents with mobility concerns move around easily. Check the apartments to see if they grab bars in the shower, elevators, non-slip floors, smoke detectors and sprinklers, and round-the-clock emergency response. Also, ask if there are with 24 hours surveillance available and other necessary security features.
