Are you trying to find senior housing options for a loved one? Are you faced with making the decision about where your loved one will live out their days? If you find yourself to be a child or relative of one of the 70% of elderly citizens over the age of 65 that need long-term care, education is key. Educating yourself on your options is the best way to make an informed decision on behalf of your loved one.
There are a wide variety of options for senior living. These options include:
- Independent Living
- Continuum Care Retirement Communities
- Congregational Care
- Active Senior Apartments
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Skilled Nursing Centers
- Alzheimer’s And Memory Care
- In Home Care
- Respite Care
- Hospice Care
- Veterans Housing
- Cooperative Housing
- Adult Day Care
The longevity of life is increasing, meaning there is a large elderly population than ever before. On average, people who reach 65 years of age will live for 18 more years, up from the average of 4 years in 1960.
Learn: Before you find senior housing and make a final decision, you will first have to assess how the needs of your loved one line up with the different types of senior living. Researching the types of facilities listed above will provide you with an overview of what fits within your financial and emotional capacities. There is a spectrum of the amount of care provided at each facility and you’ll want to know where on the spectrum your loved one lies.
Some children of elderly citizens choose to leave their parents in the hands of staff at an adult day care facility, meaning they are looked after minimally and only during a set range of hours during the day. This is a great option for families who want to look after their loved one but can’t during the day due to conflicting work hours. Another option is assisted living. This provides an independent lifestyle with 24/7 available support, only if needed.
Location: Would you like your loved one to be local to you? Or do you have family in another area that would like to be close to them? The location is an important aspect of the decision-making process because it will most likely ultimately effect the amount of time you are able to spend with the loved one placed there. You will not want to send them to an isolated facility without anyone familiar nearby as this can lead to loneliness and therefore depression in an elderly patient.
Tour: A brochure can be misleading. While a facility may seem like it has everything you want for your parent, the actual housing may not be ideal. It’s important to take tours of each facility you are contemplating to get a real feel for the atmosphere and staff. Also be sure to ask plenty of questions about the facility, not strictly related to financial aspects. You will want to know who will be responding if there is ever a medical emergency with your loved one and how they will be treated.
Do you have a parent in a senior housing facility? Are you trying to find senior housing for your loved one? Sound off in the comments below.
