Rhonda Underhill of Getwellderly.
4 Seasons Senior Living is a residential senior care home providing personalized care to the elderly who require round-the-clock attention. Reach out to us today for more information! 972-584-9880
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5 Things To Do When a Parent Needs To Move to Assisted Living
As people age, their families can become increasingly concerned about their health and safety. Of course, for the parent who doesn’t need extra care, downsizing to an apartment is always an option. There’s no shortage of choices in the Fort Worth-Dallas area; more than 650 properties are available in Fort Worth alone.
For those parents who do need assistance, there are many types of eldercare available but assisted living homes are for seniors who need both custodial and medical care. Custodial services cover assistance with daily tasks such as eating, dressing, and bathing, but nursing facilities also employ licensed nurses or physicians for 24-hour care.
If one of your parents needs medical treatment or some form of therapy, a residential care home might be the best option. This can be a difficult decision to make, but if you follow these five steps presented below by 4 Seasons Senior Living, you can find the right home.
1. Choose the Right Location
When it comes to finding the perfect nursing home, location is one of the most important factors. Your parent is likely to want to be within close proximity to loved ones, including you, a spouse, or other relatives.
Loneliness is one of the worst things for a senior in a nursing home. In fact, statistics cited by the CDC show that social isolation can increase the risk of dementia by 50%, heart disease by 29%, and stroke by 32%. Such conditions ultimately increase the risk of morbidity. You should also consider a nursing home that conducts community-wide activities to promote socializing, but nothing beats being nearby to loved ones.
2. Pick What Your Parent Needs
US News & World Report explains there are several basic requirements you should look for in a nursing home:
A welcoming feeling
Kind, experienced, and tenured staff
Open visitation
Opportunities and activities
However, nursing homes aren't solely about care. It's a resident's home away from home, so you should also take into consideration the personality of your parent. Is he or she a quiet individual who prefers solo activities, or someone who thrives in extremely social environments? Gather anecdotal references to see what other families think of the facilities so that you get the full scope of what the nursing home offers different types of people.
3. Check Your Funding Options
Unfortunately, most insurance policies do not cover nursing care, and unless your parent has planned ahead with long-term care insurance, chances are you'll have to pay for the home out of pocket. Not everyone has the savings or the income to cover the costs, but you can sell your parents' home to fund the nursing expenses. Make sure you take inventory of their assets and determine the home's equity by subtracting what is owed on the mortgage from the current market value. From there, you'll be able to determine what you could afford.
Cost may factor into the type of living arrangement that is chosen. Depending on the level of care that’s required, “aging in community” may be an option for those requiring little to no extra care, which includes home-sharing, senior co-ops, and senior villages.
4. Keep What Matters
Downsizing is incredibly important when moving from a house to a nursing home. The rooms tend to be small, so your parent likely won't be able to take everything they want. Help loved ones make their new space feel homey by selecting a few key pieces of furniture and memorabilia to include in their new room. Do a search online for “moving help near me” to find a local moving company with high ratings and reviews that can assist with getting the necessary belongings to the new space safely.
5. Take Care of Yourself
This may be a stressful transition for all loved ones involved. To best care for your parent, you should be in top form. Consider therapy to manage high levels of stress. You can also try at-home exercises such as yoga to center yourself and be in the best position to help your parent.
Finding the right nursing home will take time, so be patient and do your due diligence. Decide what factors are the most important to you and your parent, and let those inform your decisions.