Approximately 1.3 million seniors in the U.S. live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Are you considering moving your elderly loved one to one of these facilities? 

The decision to transition a loved one to a long term care facility is a difficult one, and there’s a lot to consider before the big move happens.

Listed below are some tips that will help you find a great long term senior care facility for your loved one.

Consider Their Needs

Start by thinking about what your loved one needs from a care facility.

Do they need a nursing home with lots of individual care, or will they do better in an assisted living facility where they can enjoy more independence?

What kind of health concerns do they have? Are they showing signs of dementia? Are they at risk of falling and injuring themselves?

The answers to these questions will help you determine what kind of facility to look for and ensure all your loved one’s needs are met.

Consider the Costs

Of course, you’ll need to think about what your loved one can afford, too.

When you’re looking into a particular facility, find out how much it costs for your loved one to live there. Check to see if there is any financial assistance available that will help to cover the expenses associated with their care as well. 

Keep in mind that Medicare usually doesn’t cover long-term care. Medicaid often does, though.

Visit Each Prospective Facility

Always visit prospective facilities in-person before making a decision.

Pay special attention to the cleanliness of the facility, the quality of the food being serviced, and how happy the residents seem. Ask about the access your loved one will have to specialized medical care, too.

If possible, try to talk to some of the residents as well. Ask them what they like about the facility and what kinds of things they do every day to stay busy.

Include Your Loved One

Be sure to include your loved one in the decision-making process as much as possible.

Talk to them about what they liked and didn’t like about each facility you visited and find out what kind of care they want to receive moving forward.

Seniors face a greater risk of depression than many other groups of people.

If they feel that they have no control over their life and where they spend their time, they may be even more likely to experience feelings of depression.

Not Ready for Long Term Senior Care?

If you think it’s time for your loved one to transition to a long term senior care facility, these tips will help you find the best one for them and their needs.

Not every senior needs long-term care, though. Sometimes, they just need someone to come in and check on them a few times per week. 

Contact us at Seniors Helping Seniors today to learn more about peer-to-peer caregiving and how our program works.

We offer a variety of services for seniors in the San Diego and Orange County areas, including housekeeping, grooming, companionship, and coordinating doctor’s appointments.