How to Choose an Assisted Living Facility for Your Loved One 

You have delayed as long as possible. Not only have taken time away from work, but you have also taken turns with family members to provide care to keep your loved one safe. There is not enough time, enough skill, and possibly the stress is breaking down relationships. It started out as a thought, but now it is a reality. It is time to consider assisted living.

Maybe you have tried in-home care. The hours for care are getting too expensive, and your loved one’s care needs are getting more demanding. Keeping your loved one at home is no longer an option. How do you choose a place to live that provides the necessary care within your budget?

Steps to Make the Best Choice

In order to determine if a licensed adult foster care (AFC) such as assisted living or residential assisted living in a home community-based setting is a good fit, follow these simple steps to make the best choice:

1. Contact a placement specialist agency to help identify a location that fits your loved one’s care needs and budget. Companies such as Care Patrol or Oasis Senior Advisors can help free of charge.
2. Once you find some locations that look like possibilities, check the history of licensing inspections and citations on the State of Michigan AFC Licensing lookup tool.
3. Visit the facility you are considering. Observe the attitude of the staff and the residents that live there. Does the staff seem engaged? Do they know their residents well? Are the residents clean and content? Is the facility organized and clean?
4. Ask questions to determine if the AFC staff is skilled and trained to meet your loved one’s needs. What are the staff’s coping and redirecting skills when they receive resistance or objection to care? Does the facility have care planners routines and enriching activities in place?
5. Determine how the facility communicates information about your loved one. Ask how a doctor and other appointments are coordinated as well as transportation.
6. Confirm all the information gathered meets the needs of your loved including your budget.
7. Choose the preferred AFC Home location and a date to move.

Final Thoughts

Making the decision to move your loved one from home to a supported living environment may seem hard. Following the steps outlined will help make the process easier. 

About Care Provider Solutions:

Our mission is simple, we partner with AFC owners and operators to reduce their stress by teaching simple systems to help them succeed. We use the many years of experience gained over the opening, running, and operating of many homes to help owners and operators succeed.