Find Assisted Living
Looking for a Place for Mom or Dad in California or Texas?
Please call us before calling an Assisted Living Community. As a Gerontologist and previous Executive Director for Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities we know how to navigate the industry, we are able to guide clients to reputable Communities FREE of charge and advocate for our clients when matching them to an Assisted Living Community that meets their needs. Our priority is our client’s well-being, comfort, and happiness.
Call Us Today 949-278-6181
Determining Your Best Options in California or Texas
When aging at home is not an option for seniors, an Assisted Living Community setting might be appropriate for them, in order to identify which setting is best for our clients, we perform a comprehensive assessment which includes; Fall Risk Evaluation, Geriatric Depression evaluation, Self-Medication assessment, Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Pain and Skin assessments as needed. Having an independent assessment prior to placing the older adult is important for many reasons:
- Obtain an unbiased assessment.
- Obtain a baseline.
- Compare independent assessment to the assessment done by the community to ensure the correct services are provided and charged accordingly.
How Do You Know When It’s Time for Assisted Living?
There isn’t one specific event that determines when someone should move to Assisted Living. For many families, the decision develops gradually as everyday activities become more difficult.
Some signs that it may be time to explore Assisted Living include:
- Frequent falls or increasing fall risk
- Difficulty walking or transferring safely
- Missed or incorrectly taken medications
- Difficulty bathing, dressing, or grooming
- Poor nutrition or unexplained weight loss
- Increasing isolation or loneliness
- Difficulty maintaining the home
- Forgetting appointments or important tasks
- Family caregiver exhaustion
- Increasing confusion or memory problems
Safety concerns when living alone
Things to Consider in California or North Texas
Some considerations to be taken for Assisted Living options are finances, community’s reputation, team’s longevity, team’s training, services offered. Most communities charge for care separately, as your or your loved one decline you need to take into consideration the higher cost of care for the additional services as well as yearly rent increases. You want to ensure the community is able to care for you or your loved one through end of life to avoid having to move later.
Making the decision to place a loved one in an Assisted Living Community is a difficult one, please allow us to help you through these challenging times. Call Now 949-278-6181
Not All Assisted Living Communities Are the Same
Families sometimes assume Assisted Living Communities provide essentially the same services. They don’t.
Communities can differ significantly in staffing, training, care capabilities, pricing, amenities, management, culture, and the residents they are best equipped to serve.
When comparing Assisted Living options, we encourage families to look beyond beautiful buildings and impressive amenities.
Important considerations include:
Care Capabilities
Can the community provide the level of assistance your loved one needs today?
More importantly, what happens if those needs increase?
Staffing
Ask about staffing levels, employee turnover, training, supervision, and how caregivers respond when residents require additional assistance.
Reputation
A community’s reputation, leadership, licensing history, staff longevity, and relationships with residents and families can provide important information.
Location
Being close to family, physicians, hospitals, friends, church, and familiar surroundings may make the transition easier.
Activities and Lifestyle
The community should provide opportunities that match the resident’s interests, abilities, personality, and preferred level of social interaction.
Memory Care
If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, determine whether the community can safely accommodate cognitive decline and whether specialized Memory Care is available if it becomes necessary.
Understanding Assisted Living Costs
Cost is one of the biggest concerns families have when considering Assisted Living.
Families should understand exactly what is included in the advertised monthly rate.
Many communities have a base monthly fee covering the apartment, meals, housekeeping, activities, and other services. Additional care charges may be added depending on how much assistance the resident requires.
Before selecting a community, ask about:
- Monthly rent
- Care-level charges
- Medication management fees
- Community or entrance fees
- Additional personal care charges
- Transportation fees
- Laundry or housekeeping charges
- Annual rent increases
- How often care levels are reassessed
- Costs if care needs increase
The least expensive community is not automatically the best value, and the most expensive community is not necessarily the best choice.
The goal is to find the right combination of quality, care, affordability, and long-term suitability.
Think About Tomorrow’s Needs — Not Just Today’s
Moving can be physically and emotionally difficult for an older adult. For this reason, families should consider whether a community can continue caring for their loved one if their needs increase. Let The Way to Aging help you understand your loved one’s needs, compare Assisted Living options, evaluate communities, and find a senior living environment where they can feel safe, comfortable, supported, and at home. Making the decision to place a loved one in an Assisted Living Community is a difficult one, please allow us to help you through these challenging times. Call Now 949-346-5960