An assisted living community may be a good option if you require assistance with things like cooking and bathing but do not require the level of constant care that is provided by a nursing home. A team member may remind you to take your medications on schedule or help you button your blouse in the morning, but they will not hover over you the whole time.
Although all 28,900 assisted living communities in the United States serve the same general population and contribute to the same overarching aims, there are significant differences between them in terms of size, culture, specialization, pricing, privileges, and yes, even food.
What to Look for When Choosing a Florida Assisted Living Community
Similar to how each individual person is different, so too is each assisted living community. Be sure the assisted living community can accommodate your loved one’s clinical requirements, social expectations, and financial constraints. Here’s what you can look for:
- Location
Many assisted living communities maintain that the relevance of location is subjective, changing for each prospective resident based on their personal tastes. Experts explain that many people choose to remain in the same area they previously called home because they enjoy being near their existing network of support. It is not uncommon for loved ones to suggest that a family member relocate to an assisted living community in close proximity to them so that they may more readily pay regular visits. The proximity of the assisted living community to other health care providers, such as a hospital or doctor’s office, is something that residents and their families should think about too in case the need for additional health care arises.
- Size
According to experts, the median number of licensed beds in an assisted living community is 33. The size of communities can range from those with only a few beds (between four and ten) to those with hundreds. The range of available services may also change with increased size. For example, larger communities might be more likely to have specialized memory care units or entertainment options like movie theaters and swimming pools.
- Services
Unlike those in nursing homes, residents in assisted living frequently need support with only a few activities of daily living, like showering, dressing, and walking.
Some assisted living communities offer individualized care plans in addition to the standard fare of meals, housekeeping, exercise and wellness activities, and help with medication management.
- Next-Level Care
Moving from complete independence to a care community can be a big change, so it is understandable to put off thinking about the future all at once. Nonetheless, the effort will be rewarded with positive outcomes. If the assisted living community is part of a larger community with other services, such as memory care, the move from assisted living to memory care may be less disruptive.
- Cost
One of the most important things to think about is whether or not you can afford an assisted living community and how you plan to pay for it. The room’s size and whether you have a private or shared bathroom may also be limited by your financial situation.
Most people in nursing homes are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, whereas those in assisted living pay for their care out of pocket.
