Choosing a senior living community is an important decision. While it can be a challenging process, it isn’t insurmountable, especially if you understand the elements that go into finding the best living arrangements for seniors.
At present, there are many senior living communities in Minnesota you can choose from. If you’re confused with the available options, below are some of the things you should look for:
- Types Of Services Being Offered
Before you start searching for a senior living community, it’s wise to determine the potential service level being offered. Remember that as people age, the required level of assistance may also increase. Hence, find communities that may cater to your loved one’s potential and current needs.
Below are the different available senior living service options:
- Memory Care – It’s designed for seniors with memory-related illnesses, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Such communities have trained staff to accommodate impairments.
- Assisted Living – It provides a licensed and safe environment where staff may administer medication, assist with daily activities, and coordinate with healthcare providers.
- Enhanced Living – It’s an improved version of independent living since it has more available services.
- Independent Living – It’s designed for independent seniors who need minimal assistance.
- Activities
A senior living community provides a depth enrichment-oriented programming. While others are more basic, some are extensive. Also, several communities let residents customize their activities, while some feature swimming pools and fitness facilities, which are perfect for seniors who want to stay fit and have an active lifestyle.
- Cost
In terms of choosing a senior living community, the cost is something that you mustn’t ignore. People with Medicaid might have limited options than the ones with access to some means of payment, including long-term care insurance, personal savings, veterans’ benefits, home equity life insurance, and a combination of resources.
The mode of payment may also vary. Typically, some facilities charge monthly rent or have an upfront cost. Narrow your options to those you can afford and assess such options based on other criteria like the services offered. This will help you determine if the cost is worth it or not.
- Community Quality
Once you’ve found your preferred senior living communities, spend some time touring such facilities. This will allow you to evaluate the little details that could make a community feel like home.
If possible, focus on cleanliness, food quality, and staff friendliness. It’s also a great time to tour when there’s an event in the community because it’ll let you see how residents and staff interact.
- Accreditations
Most people fail to realize that neither state nor federal guidelines need senior living communities to be licensed and accredited. The best thing about accredited communities is that they meet or even exceed the prescribed standard of care. To ensure quality, make sure to ask about the process of accreditation along with some measures aimed.
- Extra Amenities
Aside from senior living services, know the other things that are offered to seniors. A good senior living community offers additional amenities, such as entertainment, community events, transportation services, laundry, and housekeeping services.
Never forget to ask about the cost of such amenities. While others include them in the monthly cost, some might charge extra fees.
- Location
If you want to frequently visit your loved one, you should ensure that the senior living community you choose is located near your area, so it’ll be more convenient for you.
If you pick a facility that’s far away, it might take hours for you to drive and visit your loved one. This may not only add more to your gas expenses, but it’ll also limit how often you visit.
The location may also affect the kind of care offered. Because of the state laws, other facilities can’t provide medical services.
- Security Measures
Since seniors are prone to injuries, it’s crucial that the facility you pick has security measures, such as non-slip flooring and accessible handrails.
Moreover, the senior living community must be secured from the outside world. It won’t only prevent unsavory characters from getting in, but it may also prevent the ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia from getting out.
- Staffing
Other than being experienced and properly trained, the staff must be courteous and friendly. Their attitude can make a difference in the senior living community’s environment. So, ensure that you check the staff-to-resident ratio.
If the number is high, there’s more of a chance that the staff is stressed and overworked. This may affect the ways they behave towards the residents, regardless if it’s conscious or not.
Bottom Line
When it comes to senior living communities in Minnesota, you have to take note that there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all. Keeping what’s best for you and your loved one at the center of the assessment process can help you determine the right fit. Just make sure to consider the above factors for you to make your decision easier.
