There comes a time when you must make critical, life-changing decisions that impact your family. One such decision is choosing a retirement community that provides personal care for your aging loved one, who deserves to maintain a high-quality lifestyle.
The timing and reasons for finding personal care services that meet your loved one’s needs will vary from family to family. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s crucial that your loved one join an all-encompassing continuous care retirement community so they retain their independence in a home away from home while receiving the assistance they need.
A good starting point is researching local retirement communities that offer personal care services. With this step-by-step guide, we’ll help you make an informed decision, so your family member receives the best care possible.
When seeking appropriate care, you might have encountered terms like “nursing home,” “personal care home,” and “continuing care retirement community.” While most provide long-term care services, a personal care home community offers prospective residents the opportunity to live in their own spaces and receive personal care assistance.
This means residents live independently but are assisted with daily activities like grooming, hygiene and medication management. Meals are provided as well as housekeeping and laundry services.
Living in personal care within a continuing care community provides access to many amenities. An attractive feature of personal care at Frederick Living is the various opportunities for connection with fellow residents and services available to residents. The opportunities for self-development are endless, from learning a new hobby to volunteering in various campus ventures like knitting to raise funds for charity.
Some social activities your family member can expect include crafting, baking, shopping trips, movies, musical events and more. Bible study classes, Sunday services and meditation are ideal for spiritual stimulation.
Mental and physical wellness is a major focus. Some activities are aimed at maintaining cognitive awareness, while a 24/7 fitness center and on-site physical therapists provide assistance with strength and mobility exercises.
The holistic services and activities differ between communities offering personal care, but most have extensive programs that cater to varying needs. At Frederick Living, your loved one will be spoiled for choice regarding amenities and social activities.
Each individual has different medical, emotional and social needs. You know your loved one well and understand their needs better than anyone. A suitable continuing care community must be equipped to meet these needs.
When researching a personal care home provider, consider how your family member will benefit from the activities and amenities to ensure their holistic well-being. The community’s amenities should also reflect your loved one’s cultural or religious interests, which may be important to them.
Your research into potential care communities should be thorough and carefully planned. Consult several websites and read their reviews and ratings. It can also help to reach out over the phone to learn specific details from the staff. Additionally, consider asking your family member’s health care providers for recommendations.
Create a shortlist to narrow down the community options with the most potential. Consider criteria like costs, amenities, services, activities and proximity to yourself or other family members. Highlight the communities that closely meet your loved one’s preferences.
You’ve made a lot of effort to find respected living communities online, and visiting each one in person with your family member is crucial to making a decision. Schedule visits at each community on your list.
When you arrive, make notes of the following:
Ensure you ask the staff about critical concerns such as emergency procedures, safety and security precautions, and staff qualifications and turnover rate. You need peace of mind that your loved one will be cared for well, so don’t hesitate to ask the necessary questions.
Cost is a significant factor in determining a living community’s suitability. Discuss each community’s pricing structure and have them explain their fees and additional costs. They should disclose whether they offer Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance and other financial aid options so your family can plan for your loved one’s future long-term care expenses.
As a family, you must carefully consider your options and decide what’s best for your loved one. Frederick Living is an established, reputable community with splendid personal care and apartments and studios to suit your loved one’s needs.
We are deeply rooted in Christian values and treat each individual with the respect and care they deserve to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives. At Frederick Living, your family is ours.
If you’re interested in touring a personal care apartment for your loved one, schedule a visit to our campus, and we’ll discuss the path forward.