Tips to Help an Aging Senior Find a Quality Assisted Living Facility

September 3, 2019 by ·

Convincing an aging senior that assisted living is the best option for them at this point in their life may not be as simple as it sounds. Some elderly men and women are adamantly opposed to any idea of moving from their current residence. It might be a house, apartment, condo, or some other living situation.

They may see assisted living in the wrong light, too.

Assisted Living Spanish Fort AL: “What If Everyone There’s a Gossip?” Concerns About Assisted Living Some Seniors May Have

Assisted Living Theodore, AL: Quality Assisted Living Facility

Some people have various misconceptions about assisted living. They immediately associate it with nursing home care. The two are completely different, however, and assisted living can be better associated with upscale independent living with fully attentive staff ready to help when or as needed.

When an aging senior does decide assisted living is the right option for him or her moving forward, the next step is to find the right facility. Below are a few simple tips that could help this elderly individual focus in on the facility that is optimal for their needs at this point in his or her life.

Tip #1: Find out which ones are in the area.
Family may see this as an opportunity to get this aging parent or grandparent living closer to them. However, it’s important to realize people build roots throughout their community, wherever they live. If this aging senior has been in the same area for years, possibly even decades, they most likely would rather stay there, closer to friends as opposed to moving a hundred, a thousand, or more miles away just to be closer to family.

Get a list of the best assisted living facilities in the area and that’s where the senior will most likely prefer to start looking.

Tip #2: Understand the senior’s interests.
What is this elderly person most interested in? Do they enjoy arts and crafts? What about music and entertainment? Do they prefer to go to the mall and do some walking on a daily basis?

Whatever the senior is most interested in can shed valuable light on which facility might be best suited for them at this point in their life.

Tip #3: Visit them on a tour.
Visit these assisted living facilities on a scheduled tour. This will give you and the senior some visual assistance on what the facility is like, how comfortable the rooms are, and what the residents already there are like. Are they friendly? Are they accommodating? Are they quiet?
A tour is one of the best ways to see exactly what a particular assisted living facility could offer each senior.

Tip #4: Listen.
Avoid the temptation to dictate what this aging individual should or shouldn’t do. Instead, listen to their concerns, questions, hopes and aspirations, etc. When you do, you will put yourself in the best position to be the help this senior needs to make a valuable and potentially difficult decision in his or her life.

 

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

Filed Under: Assisted Living in Theodore AL, Tips to Help an Aging Senior Find a Quality Assisted Living Facility · 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.
Google Verified Author