Assisted Living
Evaluate Your Needs
A number of personal and practical concerns may affect the search for an assisted living facility.
Location
The location of a particular facility may or may not be a concern for those seeking care. It is essential to discuss the issue of relocating with the potential resident, listen to the responses — and honor preferences if possible.
For many potential residents, having regular contact with family and friends outside the facility is their greatest single concern. But others relish the thought of living closer to children or grandchildren who might visit more often or become more involved with their care. Still others, because of dementia or chronic illness, need to be moved close to the family members or friends who will oversee their care, whether or not they have a community of other contacts there.
Demographics
Researching assisted living to find the right fit is important; many individuals want to join a community with people who are of similar ages, medical conditions, or backgrounds.
Individual Needs
Depending on personal preferences and what people and services are realistically available to offer care and support, a person might be a good candidate for assisted living if he or she regularly needs a lot of help with two or more daily activities.
Daily activities to consider include: eating; using the toilet; bathing; dressing; grooming; walking; and moving from one place to another.
In addition, consider whether the individual needs help with daily needs, such as preparing meals, shopping for groceries and other essentials, housekeeping, taking medication and using the telephone. If a person is unable to consistently take care of these needs independently, that may also signal the need to consider moving into assisted living.