Assisted living communities provide essential care and a sense of calm and peace of mind for aging parents. Identifying the suitable facility “fit” for your loved one requires matching your parents’ needs, budget, and lifestyle with desirable locations. Research and preparation yield the best results when all parties participate. Engage by asking questions and conversing openly about expectations.
Assisted Living Steps
When elderly parents require more help than an in-home caregiver can provide, we recommend you take the following steps to learn about long term care before committing to relocate your parents. The following points have been adapted from an article posted on A Place For Mom.
Converse with family.
Where applicable, include siblings in discussions no matter how far away they live. If you plan the meeting, clearly communicate your capacity to participate and provide care. If you serve as your parent’s current caregiver, share your challenges regarding the job. Also, remind them you cannot continue to perform the duties indefinitely without support. Work at the outset to settle disagreements. Securing family members’ support provides a smooth transition and reduces your workload. Your siblings may surprise you by their input or solutions about assisted living.
Understand assisted living.
Big life changes usher in significant stress. This is particularly true with the elderly, who are often resistant to change. You can elevate your parents’ needs by taking an assessment of their activities of daily living (ADLs). Recognize that assisted living encompasses far more than many people realize. However, assisted living is not as involved as memory care or nursing homes. Do your due diligence so you understand what assisted living offers and match it to your parents’ needs and limitations. While healthy skepticism is reasonable, remember to consider the potential benefits that assisted living offers.
Plan how to cover costs for your parents’ care.
Cost is often the most significant determining factor when looking for senior living options. Assess your family’s budget so you know what your parents can afford. Then, seek out assisted living communities that match your budget. If your parents have savings or long-term care insurance, these will help defray the costs.
Take a virtual tour or visit an assisted living center in person.
Nothing beats a physical trip through an assisted living community. This beats brochures, photos, reviews, and floor plans. Tour at least three communities. And try to schedule time for your parents to tour, as well. Mealtimes provide an excellent opportunity to tour, as you can gauge residents’ satisfaction and interaction with onsite staff.
Consult several and varied sources.
Talk to as many people as possible so you can learn from their experiences. Relying on a narrow range of information leads to bad outcomes. Read senior living community reviews. Learn about your parents’ state regulatory environment, background check requirements, and appropriate agency licensing. Take advantage of federal programs and speak to the long-term care ombudsman. They resolve issues related to safety, health, and residents’rights in senior living communities. You may also want to set up a meeting with an experienced elder law attorney such as Vic Skvarna, at Skvarna Law Firm in Glendora and Upland, California. Understanding an assisted living community contract willidentify provisions as well unforeseen or hidden costs. An elder law attorney will conduct a contract review. We do this because we aspire to a higher level of professional conduct because we serve a vulnerable population.
Seek compassionate assisted living care.
Compassion for your parents is vital during this life transition. Involve all family members in a constructive dialogue. Thus, you will help create a positive approach to a critical move. Some parents make a move with relative ease. Meanwhile, other parents prove more challenging. For the best possible experience, follow these steps to help your parents move to an assisted living community.
About Skvarna Law in Glendora & Upland, California
Skvarna Law Firm operates offices in Glendora and Upland, California. Also, we provide legal services. We cover San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties. This includes several cities. Upland, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Colton, Rialto, Chino, Chino Hills, Glendora, Claremont, Pomona, La Verne, Montclair, San Dimas, Azusa, Covina, West Covina, Diamond Bar, Walnut, La Puente, Corona, Norco & Mira Loma.
