Choosing a Safe Senior Care Facility

It’s never easy placing an elderly loved one in a care facility. They feel betrayed and you might even feel like you’re betraying them. However, in many cases this is simply what’s best for everyone involved. As people approach their advanced years, caring for them requires specialized training and knowledge that their loved ones, no matter how much you care for them, can’t adequately provide.

However, you also want to make sure they’ll be happy and above all, safe at their new home. It can be very stressful trying to much such a decision. Keeping some guidelines in mind for choosing a safe senior care facility can help you to make sure that your loved one will be safe, secure and happy.

Consider Tomorrow’s Needs

Too many people base their decision about a care facility based solely on immediate concerns. But what about if your senior loved one’s condition deteriorates down the line? Will the facility be able to keep them safe and happy a year from how? Two? Even ten? Think about the future as much as you think about today.

Make Unannounced Visits

Making an appointment the first time you visit is a good idea. After that, drop in unannounced. You’ll be able to see the facility the way it runs when it hasn’t been able to prepare for your arrival. It won’t be able to hide the undesirable bits.

Have Private Conversations

Have conversations with the residents without the staff being around. Ask them if they’re happy there, if their needs are tended to, what the staff are like. Try to get a feel for the reality behind the scenes.

Observe Interactions

Watch the interactions between the staff and residents. Are they friendly, or do the residents look depressed, quiet and withdrawn? Do the staff speak to the residents as equals with respect, or as if the residents were children?

The Book and Its Cover

Elder care facilities try their level best to put up a good face when people visit. Don’t be distracted just because the place looks neat, orderly and clean. While these are important factors, you’re trying to get a feel for the overall care they provide, not the orderliness of the books on the shelves.

Do Your Homework

Check out the legacy of the place. How long have they been in business? How much experience does the director have? Do they have a lot of negative reviews? What’s their BBB rating? The more information you can find, the better armed you’ll be to make a solid decision.