Three Factors To Consider When Choosing Assisted Living

by Guest Blogger, Hal Salazar of Elders.today

 

Moving away from your home, whether you’ve lived there for five years or 50, can bring about a host of unwanted feelings and even emotional pain. Maybe you lived there with your spouse who recently passed away, or perhaps you raised your children in your current home. If you’re considering selling your house and relocating to an assisted living facility or a retirement home, know that these feelings are normal.

 

You are doing the best with your situation, but you’ve probably realized that keeping up with a house — and maybe your own physical or medical needs — is too demanding. You’d rather be enjoying your golden years and not worrying about the laundry, the property maintenance, and cleaning a house by yourself! You’d prefer for someone else to take care of the details. Before you choose an assisted living facility, read through the following points (presented by Dr. Mara Karpel) to help you make your decision with the most accurate information possible.

 

Understand What Needs To Be Done Before Moving

An often overlooked step in moving into a retirement or assisted living home is figuring out what needs to be done before the big move. For example, are you selling your home? What will you be doing with your belongings that you don’t want to take with you? Do you know where your important documents, like your will, are located?

 

If you’re considering selling, do some online research (or have a friend or family member assist you) to assess the price tag of recently sold homes in Austin. This will give you the total picture of your income after you sell your home.

 

Choose Your Level of Care

Retirement homes and assisted living facilities typically offer different levels of care depending on your financial situation, your medical needs, and your individual wishes for your life at the home. If you have no medical issues, can drive a car, and are able to live relatively independently, you may simply be seeking a community and amenities such as grounds maintenance and laundry services. Make a list of what you need. For example, do you want to cook, or do you want your three meals a day prepared for you?

 

At the highest level of care in most facilities, you may be offered medical services including nursing care, bathing and dressing assistance, and mobility help. Those who have medical conditions, as well as those without, are able to live in assisted living homes — and sometimes, they are able to live together in the same home. If you are thinking about joining a retirement home community but your spouse has a medical condition, ask if arranging different levels of care for the two of you is an option.

 

Assess Your Financial State

When considering moving into assisted living, make it a point to assess your finances, including your projected monthly budget, for the foreseeable future. This will allow you to understand how much you can allot for the home’s fees as well as any medical expenses you may expect in the near future.

 

Though moving into a retirement home can represent a big emotional and physical change in your life, it’s not necessarily a bad one. Many seniors who adjust well to assisted living find that they make new friends, discover a new sense of community and belonging, and worry less about the little details they no longer have to remember.