Boomers: How Do You Choose an Assisted Living Facility?

January 29th, 2014

BOOMERS – if you are considering Assisted Living for a parent or loved one, how do you know which facility to choose? Since the failing health of your loved one is the only reason that brings you to assisted living, how do you know whether a particular Facility is capable or up-to-the-task of managing your loved one’s health? Consider the following examples:

Among your dad’s health issues is a heart condition that demands regular visits with a cardiologist as well as several different heart medicines given at specific times of the day.

Wouldn’t you like to see some evidence that the Assisted Living communities you’re considering have experience caring for people with similar conditions and have knowledge of the medicines he’s prescribed?

Your uncle has been a long-time smoker in the past and now has lung disease that requires continuous oxygen, regular use of inhalers, as well as several other prescription medicines.

What is the experience of the Assisted Living Facility you’re considering in caring for residents with similar lung conditions? Are they familiar with inhalers, the proper way to use inhalers, and the other medicines your loved one takes? Are their employees knowledgeable about lung disease so that they can identify breathing problems early and make appropriate arrangements with you and your uncle’s doctors?

Joe’s mother-in-law has memory lapses. She’s a little unsteady on her feet and sometimes forgets to use her walker, making her a fall risk. She also gets her medicines confused or forgets to take them occasionally, and now this has made her blood pressure very difficult to control.

What is the experience of the Assisted Living Facilities you’re considering in caring for residents with memory issues? Do they have many other residents with this particular health issue, giving their employees experience and insight with managing this condition?

Mary’s father worked hard all his life on his farm, but this has left him with severe arthritis, chronic back pain, and depression because of his current physical limitations and gradual loss of independence. And the prescription pain medicines he takes have occasional side effects that interfere with his other medicines and chronic health problems. His depression causes him to want to just stay in his room most of the day and not socialize.

Is the Assisted Living Facility you’re considering familiar with caring for residents with severe arthritis? Do the employees have much experience and knowledge about prescription pain medicines? What’s your facility’s experience in caring for residents with depression?

Would you be interested and even comforted in seeing unbiased and objective health information about the different ALs in your community…information that would help you in choosing the AL that has the greatest expertise in caring for the health conditions your loved one has?

Make health management part of the discussion when you visit and learn about Assisted Living Facilities. Ask them for their HEALTH PROFILES or other objective documentation of their health management. This information will allow the Assisted Living Facility the opportunity to showcase their health management expertise, and it will give you the comfort and assurance you need in knowing that you’ve made the best choice possible for your loved one.