Nowadays, there are so many seniors who opt for staying in an independent or senior retirement facility instead of staying alone at home. While there are families that prefer to have their family member living with them, there are others that believe this is the best decision. There are even seniors who make the decision for themselves.
If this is a decision you are making with a parent, it is important that you choose the right living facility. Depending on your own unique situation, there are a number of factors you have to consider before choosing a facility for your loved one. Here are a few of these considerations:
Size of the Facility
Depending on your preference, you may go for a facility that’s large enough to be equipped with all the latest tools needed to run it or choose a smaller one that will make your parent feel like he’s still at home. Do you prefer your parent to live in a compact apartment-style environment or would you prefer a detached home? These things are important to consider, especially since you won’t be around to supervise your parent.
Location of the Facility
You also have to consider whether or not the facility is situated near your home. Would you be interested in moving your parent to a long distance community where he will be away from his family and friends? How about the weather? Are you hoping for a warmer community for your parent? These are things you have to carefully consider, especially since you won’t be there all of the time to supervise your parent. If you want to move him to a far location, you also have to plot out your visits so he won’t feel like he was abandoned by the very people whom he cared for.
Activities and Amenities Available
You will also need to check what types of activities and amenities are available for seniors. Does the facility have its own game room or fitness center? Do they conduct weekly entertainment shows for seniors to enjoy? Do they have a vast collection of books, music, or games for seniors to play? These things are important because they will help stimulate your parent’s brain and will keep him preoccupied instead of just staring outside the whole day. At the same time, the fitness activities will help make sure he gets to exercise and have an active lifestyle inside the facility.
The People
One of the most important things you have to consider about the facility for your parent is the people who are in the community. This involves not only the other seniors in the home but also the staff. You have to check whether or not they are equipped with the right tools to help make taking care of your loved one easier. At the same time, you have to check whether or not they are friendly enough. Get to know these things by interacting with the other residents in the facility so you have an idea of how well your parent will be treated.
The above are just some of the factors you need to weigh in before you pick the right facility for your parent. Since you are hiring someone to take care of a loved one, you have to be sure they treat him or her as you would – like family. You can’t just trust anyone to do that, especially when it comes to taking care of a loved one who isn’t as strong as he used to be. By choosing carefully, you’ll be sure to find someone to take care of your parent as if he were his own.
Written by The Village Of Bedford Walk, a senior living community in Columbia, MO.