3 Things To Think About When Searching For An Assisted Living Facility For An Elderly Parent
The time may come where one or both of your elderly parents are unable to continue to live alone. For most people, the best option is to have their elderly parent live in a quality assisted living facility. But the process of finding the right facility and taking care of all of the details can be stressful and daunting. If you're searching for an assisted living facility for an elderly parent, think about the following things:
Location
In this day and age, families are often scattered around the country and elderly parents may not live in the same state as their own children. When searching for an assisted living home, carefully consider the location. If your parents are healthy enough to travel, you may want to think about selecting an assisted living facility that is local to your home. That will give you the ability to visit with your parents on a regular basis. In the event that there are any issues or medical problems, you will also be close by if you're needed.
Level of Care
The term assisted living facility is a broad term for a variety of different care options. Some elderly people may not be able to keep up with the rigors of maintaining a house and driving regularly, but they may not need around the clock care. In this type of situation, an assisted living facility with small individual apartments, a common area, dining room, an staff to help the residents as needed may be best.
If your elderly parent has serious health issues and needs frequent medical care, a facility that is advertised as a nursing home may be the better option. Nursing homes have many of the same features as an assisted living facility, but a nursing home is staffed with a number of nursing professionals who work around the clock. This ensures that your parent's medical needs will be monitored or met every single day.
In the event that you have an elderly parent who is suffering from severe dementia or Alzheimer's disease, he or she will need to live in an assisted living facility with a dedicated memory care unit. Facilities with a memory care unit take extra precautions and the staff often have extra training in how to care for someone with Alzheimer's disease or severe dementia.
Paying Fees
Living in an assisted living home full-time is not inexpensive. Many people worry about how their family's will afford the monthly fees. Check to see if your elderly parent carries a long term care insurance policy, which may cover a large portion of the monthly fees. Some people choose to pay out of pocket from savings or retirement accounts.
If your elderly parent can't afford to pay the fees associated with living in an assisted living facility, or has exhausted his or her savings, he or she may qualify for financial assistance through Medicaid. Medicaid can cover a portion or even the entire cost of living in an assisted living facility, but in order to qualify you will need to apply. Some people find the application process daunting, so it is in your best interest to work with a Medicaid specialist on your elderly parent's behalf.
Visit a site like http://www.seniorsolutionsofli.com to get more help understanding Medicaid and choosing a place for elderly loved ones to live.