Now that you’ve had the difficult discussion about transitioning to senior living with your loved one, it’s time to begin another challenging process – choosing a center. Because senior living centers operate as communities, it’s important to be thorough during the selection process, carefully weighing pros and cons to find the perfect fit for your relative. In order to place your family member in a new home where he or she feels comfortable and engaged, there are a number of things to consider when exploring potential skilled nursing centers.
Do your homework
To start the process of finding senior living homes, head online. Caring.com recommended using the following checklist when searching for skilled nursing centers:
- Is this center within reasonable driving distance of your loved one’s family and friends?
- If you’re a long-distance caregiver or your relative has loved ones that live far away, are there hotels near this care center so people can visit?
- Are there hospitals, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies nearby?
- Is this care center located in a safe neighborhood?
- What have people said about this center in online reviews?
These questions will help you narrow down your search by eliminating any skilled nursing centers that don’t meet minimum requirements. Once you have a better sense of what your options are in your loved one’s desired area, you can start to do more in-depth research.
Caring.com recommended calling each care center on your short list and asking a representative some questions you may not be able to find the answers to online. Even if most of the information is readily available on a center’s website, getting an actual person on the phone can give you a glimpse into the center’s culture. The source suggests asking if they have any availability for admission, and if not, ask how long the waiting list is. Be sure to inquire about payment methods and insurance policies, and don’t be afraid to ask them specific questions about negative Internet reviews.
Take a tour
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices even further, sign up for tours. No matter how dazzling the brochure pictures are or how enticing the price points may be, you and your relative won’t know for sure whether you’re making the right choice until you see all of the centers in person. While on your tour, pay attention to these factors:
Inspect the center’s level of cleanliness. A Place for Mom suggests looking not only at floors and furniture, but peeking at corners, windows, and other easy-to-miss spots as well. Ask for detailed information on housekeeping, maintenance, and laundry services. If you’re consistently picking up on odors throughout your tour, ask your guide what they might be – questionable smells can be a sign of larger care and cleanliness issues.
- Observe how well-groomed the residents are. If most people appear unshaven with unruly hair and clothes, you may want to explore other options.
- Get a feel for the attitude of the staff. Watch workers interact with residents and see if their methods of communication are acceptable for you and your loved one.
- Be sure to eat a meal during your tour, notes the source. Because the dining room will be both a source of food and socialization for your relative, it’s important to make sure he or she feels at home there and enjoys the cuisine.
- See if you can participate in an activity, or at least observe one in action. Ask for a schedule ahead of time so you can plan your tour around an event that might be of interest to your loved one.
- Talk to residents about their experiences. Chances are they might have important insight that could be helpful in making your final decision. If you see any residents who may have family members visiting, talk to the relatives about how the caregiver/skilled nursing center relationship has been.
- Ask to explore all parts of the property, including the outdoor areas. If your guide isn’t bringing you to certain spots, be sure to ask why those aren’t included in the tour.
Figure out the logistics
Now that you’ve got a solid sense of what’s available, it’s time to crunch some numbers and figure out the technical and financial aspects of the senior living transition.
- U.S. News & World Report noted that you should investigate the financial stability of all of the care centers in question. The last thing you want to do is select a senior care center only to have it go bankrupt and shut down.
- Ensure that the centers are licensed according to your state’s skilled nursing regulations. Additionally, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has filed major complaints against the centers on your list.
- Carefully review price points and additional fees. Consumer Reports noted that the more services or special adjustments your loved one needs, the higher the cost will be. Things like medication management or wheelchair services could increase the price significantly. Investigate costs associated with hospitalization and be sure you know what the policies are surrounding down payments and deposits. Because dealing with the monetary aspects of skilled nursing can be stressful and confusing, take your time going over the numbers and seek external help if need be.
Make a final decision
Once you’ve carefully explored your choices and narrowed it down to one or two favorites, Caring.com recommends seeing if your loved one can participate in a temporary stay. Typically, these last anywhere from a night to a week and allow your relative to really see if the care center will be a good fit. If your preferred centers don’t offer this program, see if your loved one can simply spend a day shadowing a resident.
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