Obviously simply making the decision to move into a facility for assisted living in San Diego is a huge decision. The next step is to select the best possible assisted living facility, and often people worry that they are not finding the “perfect” place for themselves or for a loved one. When you are searching for assisted living in San Diego, keep the following in mind.
1. Don’t Be Swayed By Looks Alone
There are some pretty swanky communities for assisted living in San Diego, and while they look pretty glossy on the surface, it’s not just the looks that count. In reality, the quality of the care and the quality of staff is the most important factor when choosing a facility. Sometimes a smaller assisted living home offers better care and more personal service.
When you are out visiting facilities, don’t just talk to the managers. You should talk to staff members and even residents to truly gauge the quality of life at a facility. Do some research on your own about each facility. At Care Placement, we carefully screen each and every assisted living facility in San Diego, but you also can contact the state’s long-term care ombudsman and ask about a specific assisted living facility.
2. Location, Location, Location
While you might think it is ideal to select the facility that is closest to friends and family, sometimes looking just a few miles outside the area can be a good idea. You might want your parent just a mile away, but a better facility might be five miles away. Be open to finding a spot that might be a longer drive. The reality is that you won’t be able to visit every day, so it’s more important to find a facility where your loved one will be happy, healthy and safe, and these should be the biggest considerations.
3. Put Yourself In Their Shoes
Often we choose facilities based on our own tastes or we forget that a parent has changed over the years and select a home for assisted living that is more suited to the way our parent used to be.
If you are selecting a home for your parent, be sure you think about what they will like rather than what you will like. After all, they have to live in the facility. For instance, perhaps your mom loves social activities but you don’t. You might be tempted to find a place with fewer residents, but that might not be what your mother truly will enjoy. Also, you might be excited about the pool or exercise facility, but for a parent who is too frail to swim or walk without assistance, this could be an amenity that they simply cannot use. It’s better to find an option that truly meets their needs and caters to their interests.
In addition, if your parent has some type of dementia, this is a huge factor in your facility selection. A larger community can be overwhelming to those with dementia and Alzheimer’s and it’s wise to select a calming and peaceful environment to ease their anxiety. Many facilities offer memory care and are set up specifically to make the environment as stress-free as possible for the residents.
4. Read The Fine Print Carefully
When you move into any type of home for assisted living in San Diego, a contract will be signed. Before you sign, read everything in it very carefully. You can even take the contract to a lawyer or someone else you trust to go over it with you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to walk away if you don’t like what is in the contract.
Make sure you know how much everything costs and precisely what is included in the monthly fees. Also keep in mind that your parent’s needs may change as time passes and this can increase the monthly fees. For instance, perhaps at first your parent simply uses the housekeeping and laundry services, but a few years later needs help with grooming and bathing. This can increase your monthly costs and it’s important that you understand what is included down to the penny.
The process of selecting an assisted living facility can seem very daunting. At Care Placement, we can help you with the location of suitable facilities for assisted living in San Diego County or Orange County. We can also answer many of your questions or help you find someone who can help you with additional questions or details.