Independent living type of arrangements are suitable for those who are still physically fit and like their freedom and privacy. Seniors are housed in private apartments or houses and are provided with security as well as recreation facilities and meals. Independent living services are often referred to as retirement communities, retirement housing, senior housing or independent living communities. This is the best option when one wants to ensure that one’s parents are in a safe environment and surrounded by friendly community while enjoying their freedom and privacy. The independent living senior care facility is also the least expensive compared to other types of facilities.

Assisted Living Senior Care Arrangements

Assisted living arrangements are suitable for those who require basic personal care assistance such as bathing, grooming as well as housekeeping assistance such as laundry, cleaning and meal preparation. However, these are not recommended for seniors who need medical care attention round-the-clock.

Some assisted living accommodations provide private living quarters where seniors can enjoy their freedom and privacy and still be provided with daily personal care, meals and community living. Certain facilities offer just basic care services whilst some provide special services for seniors who suffer from Alzheimer, dementia or other forms of memory loss.

Nursing Home for Senior Care

Nursing homes provide round-the-clock medical care for seniors who suffer from chronic illnesses, stroke or disability, be it temporary or permanent. Nursing homes are staffed with trained nurses and healthcare workers who provide daily care including bathing, grooming, serving meals, dispensing medication and monitoring residents’ physical condition.

The above are three broad types of facilities that are available. However, every nursing home or senior housing establishment can differ in terms of the kind of medical facilities they provide, number of care workers on the staff or different recreational options.

Here are some basic guidelines when considering the right home for one’s parent:

Personal Care Services
It is important to check out the kind of personal care or medical care services a facility provides by visiting it and talking to its staff and residents. The quality of care can sometimes be determined by the number of nurses or care workers to number of resident’s ratio. Also, understanding more about the health and safety procedures established by the facility can help to gauge the quality of care it provides, for example by going through its past records and talking to current residents who are staying there. Also the level of
cleanliness in and around premise is an important indication as to the facility’s housekeeping standards.

Health Services
If one’s elderly parent requires round-the-clock medical care, it is critical that a facility provides trained personnel who are well-versed with first-aid drills and emergency response practices. The layout and amenities are also very important such as elevators, emergency calls in the room, handrails, sprinklers and smoke detectors, wheelchair friendly doorways and corridors, non-skid floors and security. In addition, one can talk to current residents about the way they are treated as well as view the week’s menu in order to
ensure that the facility provides the level of dietary care as one expects.

Recreation Facilities and Activities
It takes a tremendous amount of courage for one to move into a nursing facility. It means a total change of lifestyle, having to adjust to a whole new environment and meeting new people. Therefore, it is important to ensure that a senior care facility provides recreation activities and amenities that will make one’s loved one feels at home. For example, libraries, activity rooms, a chapel, pools, saunas, beauty shops, exercise machines or outdoor walks can certainly help one pass the time and enhance healthy interaction with peers in the facility.

Geographical Considerations
Being near to one’s aging parent is a very important criterion when choosing a senior care facility. It provides a peace of mind to know that a loved one is within reach should anything happen. It also allows for more frequent family visits and enables an elderly parent to spend more time with their grandchildren. Locating a nursing facility in one’s town or within a 50 mile radius is certainly the first thing one should do.

Cost
Generally, the monthly fee increases in tandem with the amount of personal or medical care required. Therefore, nursing homes are generally more costly as compared to independent living conditions. In addition to the monthly fee, there may also be some hidden costs such as laundry, special meals or special nursing care. Sometimes one has to weigh the priorities where costs is concerned, which is to choose a home that provides the required quality care as opposed to one that offers certain recreational facilities for example.

Many nursing facilities participate in the Medicaid program; however, Medicaid only covers twin sharing accommodation or if such is not available, one’s loved one may be transferred to another nursing facility further away or transferred to an open dormitory living condition which may not be desirable. Therefore, it is important that one weighs the financial possibilities before signing up one’s loved one to a particular costly facility.

Taking care of one’s aging parents requires commitment, time and patience that many may not be able to provide due to family responsibilities or job-related concerns. Therefore choosing the right senior care facility is critical to ensure one’s loved one is being taken care of and are in safe hands. This decision largely depends on the extent of personal or medical care a senior requires, one’s financial allocation, quality of services offered by that facility as well as the location of the facility.