If you are a senior contemplating living choices, you may have wondered whether an assisted living facility is right for you. The answer is maybe. Why only maybe? Because the reality is that assisted living is not the right choice for all seniors. Instead, multiple factors determine whether assisted living is a good choice for seniors and their families. Here are some of the things that we think all seniors and their families should consider when contemplating a move to assisted living.
- Is there a high-quality assisted living facility in your neighborhood or conveniently located near friends and family? One of the biggest risks that seniors take when they move to an assisted living facility is that they will be removing themselves from existing family and community supports. Having assisted living facilities located within neighborhoods, like Castle Senior Living’s New York assisted living facilities, makes it possible for seniors to transition to assisted living without becoming separated from their home communities.
- Can an assisted living facility provide care for any chronic or acute health conditions? Most assisted living facilities are well-prepared to handle chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, low-level dementia, or heart disease. However, you also want to ensure that the assisted living is capable of handling medical emergencies and works with hospitals and other emergency care facilities to quickly and efficiently handle acute medical conditions.
- Can you afford assisted living? Many people believe that assisted living facilities might be unduly expensive, but when you factor in the costs of at-home assistance, any mortgage payments, utilities, and property taxes assisted living facilities are often frequently less expensive than other living alternatives.
- Can an assisted living accommodate any cultural or religious needs that you might have? While all assisted living facilities would love to be able to promise all residents the cultural and religious accommodations they desire, the reality is that there could be a conflict between the needs of various residents. Talk to any facilities you visit and ensure that you can get accommodations before moving into a facility.
