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Ultimate Assisted Living Facility Decision Guide – Part 1: Determining the best living option

zeth@greatnessdigital.com December 7, 2018

We are often asked how you know if it’s time to move. We put together this list of indicators that an individual may be ready for senior living sooner rather than later. Waiting until there is a crisis such as a visit to the hospital and the discharge planner tells you your loved one can’t return home is the worst time to make decisions about long term living. You and your loved one are already under a tremendous amount of stress, adding finding and choosing an independent, assisted living community, memory care or adult care home is too much all at once-for everyone. In addition, your choices may be limited based on room availability and you may not get exactly what for which you were looking

Complete this quick quiz to see if assisted living is recommended by checking the lines below that apply to you or your loved one.

  1. _____ Tired of maintaining the home, yard, cooking, cleaning and basic household “chores”
  2. _____ Experiencing social isolation which can occur without being noticed leading to depression. Has there been a decline in participating in place of worship, no longer enjoying group activities games, not spending time with family and friends, less exercise, less interest in hobbies, etc.?
  3. _____ Diagnosis of 3 or more chronic diseases such as: Heart condition Diabetes, COPD, Stroke, Cancer
  4. _____ Five or more prescription medications. This does not include vitamins, but may include herbal supplements as herbal supplements often can have a counter-contradiction to prescription medications.
  5. _____ Any type of diagnosis of dementia related illness, prolonging a move with someone with dementia becomes more difficult with each passing day. The earlier the transition, the more successful the move will be for everyone.
  6. _____ Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) become unpredictable and/or unmanageable. Examples of ADL’s: Bladder or bowel incontinence is more frequent, falls are becoming more frequent, sleep patterns are changing, unexplainable weight gain or weight loss, Frequent or multiple trips to the hospital and medication errors.
  7. _____ Hygiene: Failure to be able to understand the need for showering, combing hair, brushing teeth, incontinence, wearing the same clothes day after day, clothes are not clean and/or stained
  8. _____ Physical safety: is the current living situation equipped to safely meet needs: i.e. grab bars in shower or near toilet, are there throw rugs/other trip hazards, are hallways too narrow. Is there a risk of wandering outside of home—are they exit seeking?
  9. _____ Other miscellaneous factors: Who is currently offering assistance, family members, in home health care agency, or no one? Can family continue to be the caregiver physically and emotionally?

If you checked more than one of these options independent or assisted living may be a good option for you or your loved one.

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