There are many unique concerns for anyone considering Assisted Living in Alaska for an aging parent, sibling, or relative. Besides care and support, there is also the quality issue regarding service, particularly where long-term care is required. To make sure that you choose a facility for assisted living that has all the features that will be advantageous to your loved one, here are some of the factors you need to consider:
Level of Care in Assisted Living Communities
Assisted living is just one of a few terms used in senior care. In some facilities, the terms may differ — Board and Care, Personal Care, or Residential care. These terms mean that the senior who enters the facility will be given professional assistance, albeit to a limited degree. However, they are still free to live independently and perform basic tasks such as shopping, banking, or participating in sports.
When choosing a facility for assisted living, check if the community is appropriate to your loved one’s physical ability, health requirements, and social preferences. In addition, services offered in a facility can vary, so it pays to know what type of support a senior can expect and use it to keep them secure and healthy. Some facilities, for example, may offer essential services but not nursing care or advanced medical care. So you might want to look at other options if the senior requires it.
License
Periodic inspections are performed on assisted care providers to determine whether the facilities keep up with industry standards and best practices. First, ensure that the facility you choose has a license to operate in the state and is up-to-date. Better yet, check the requirements in your locality. Licensing requirements can vary depending on the state, so ensure the facility meets your area’s standards.
Ask to see any results of county inspections from those in charge. A copy of the license or certificate is displayed within the facility and may be used as a reference during your visit.
Experience and background
Be warned that requirements for national licensing of assisted living facilities are not uniform, so you must be assured of a professional, skilled, and experienced staff to give support. Try to research any background information regarding the facility. Past performance indicates the facility’s ability to offer a sufficient, safe, and secure haven for your loved one.
Fit
It’s also important to consider how well the senior could fit into his new home. Try to determine if the assisted living facility offers the activities the old will like. It is also a huge plus factor if residents in the facility have similar interests, so it will be easier to form mutually beneficial relationships.
Affordability
Money can be an issue when deciding on an assisted living facility. As such, you must be prepared to shoulder the cost. Factors such as location, support, and advanced services such as nursing care could require you to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. In addition, if the senior switches to Medicaid, some facilities may no longer allow them to stay, so it pays to check. Unless you have an endless source of cash, it will help to find a facility that offers the right kind of care for the right price.
Ambiance
As someone about to place the care of a loved one on someone else, you should try to be very observant about what you see, read and hear. A good facility for assisted living should have a lively but professional feel. It should be a place you know you can leave a loved one to be cared for and not worry about their wellbeing. If, for any reason, you’re uncomfortable, try to find out why. In most cases, you may be right about your instincts.
Baxter Senior Living is a Senior Housing Community located in Anchorage, Alaska, off Baxter Road. If you are seeking Anchorage senior housing or assisted living communities in Alaska, please get in touch with us today to make your reservations. (907) 865-3500, or fill out our contact form, and we will be in touch! contact us
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