How to Plan Your Visit to an Assisted Living Facility

January 16, 2018 by ·

You have your father or mother finally ready to look into assisted living. You feel relief because taking care of them, looking after them, has been a tremendous effort. You wouldn’t consider it a burden because you love them, but it has caused tension in your own personal relationships, at work, and in many other aspects of your life.

Now that they’re ready to look into assisted living, it’s time to plan your visit. Here are a few things to keep in mind that can make a tour or some other type of visit to an assisted living facility more productive.

Assisted Living in Daphne AL: Planning a Facility Visit

Assisted Living in Daphne AL: Planning a Facility Visit

First, prepare questions.

You and your elderly family member should sit down and figure out some questions that are important to both of you. What is the facility like? Do they allow visitation at any hour a day? Are there limits to how many people can visit? How long will the senior need to stay there? Is there a minimum time commitment? Is there a waiting list to get in?

The more questions you have, the more prepared you’ll be.

Second, be open-minded.

Even if somebody is willing to look into this option, that doesn’t mean they are exactly open-minded about the prospect. They may go into this tour or visit looking for every little problem they can find. They may see a candy wrapper on the floor that staff hadn’t yet gotten to and claim the facility’s just dirty.

As long as they are open-minded and willing to look at this from a positive perspective, it can help them see the reality of the place and why it might actually be beneficial for them through the years ahead.

Third, go with family.

If the senior goes by himself or herself, they may not be as comfortable, outgoing, or willing to ask questions as they might be if they went with you or some other family members. When seniors visit some of these assisted living communities with family, they feel more positive because they see the support they have already.

Lastly, if given the opportunity, speak to some of the residents.

Some residents at assisted living are more than willing and happy to speak to prospective residents. They want to answer questions, encourage them to consider this as an option, and believe that this is truly one of the best decisions they made in their Golden Years. Not every facility will provide this opportunity, and for those that don’t, it doesn’t mean they’re trying to hide something but rather respecting those residents, but if the opportunity arises, certainly take advantage of it.

If you or an aging loved one are considering assisted living in Daphne, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Assisted Living in Daphne AL · Tagged:
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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