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How to Find the Safest Assisted Living Facility in Oregon

zeth@greatnessdigital.com January 28, 2016

search for a safe placeThe choice to put an elderly loved one into an assisted living facility in Oregon can be a hard one to make. As an older parent’s physical or mental abilities dwindle, you need a place that provides expert medical care, plenty of emotional and social support, and the ultimate in safety and security. Too many long-term care facilities have complaints filed against them for poor quality of care or inattentiveness. Knowing how to find the safest assisted living facility or nursing home in Oregon can ensure the golden years of your loved one’s life are spent happy, healthy, and safe.

Independent Reviews are a Great Place to Start

If someone in your family or close circle of friends has not yet had to put an elderly parent or grandparent into an assisted living facility in Oregon, you may need to widen your field of potential recommendations and reviews. One place to start is on the Internet. There are not only review sites where you can read recommendations from people who have used different extended care facilities, but also communities, forums and social media groups dedicated to caregiving for aging parents.

When searching for the safest assisted living facilities in Oregon, look for red flags in the reviews such as the residents having to wait after they called a nurse or an aide, any reported falls or other injuries, and the overall level of kindness and care shown individually to the residents.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) should have the number of incident reports and other information about individual assisted living facilities. Since you are trusting your parents’ or grandparents’ happiness and life to the place you choose, it is vital to do as much research as possible.

Visit Each Potential Assisted Living Facility

Observing the assisted living facility’s normal operations is one of the best ways to assure yourself of the safety and quality of that particular home. Staff should be visible, busy and engaged with the residents. People who live there should be present in the common rooms or engaged in fun activities. If the common rooms are empty, it might mean the assisted living facility is not enjoyable or that the staff makes no effort to pay attention to the residents.

The Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon

Run as an adjunct to the Oregon Department of Human Services, the ADRC helps family members of senior citizens who need long-term care find information, resources, and financial help for assisted living facilities and nursing homes. This organization is an excellent place to research safety records and overall impressions of different homes and complexes. It has guides about how to approach the people who run different assisted living centers in order to find out the information you need as well.

When an older person’s health and abilities decline, the right assisted living facility can greatly improve their quality of life and overall security. Finding one with a great track record, a sufficient number of caring staff, and appropriate policies and practices can be a challenge. To find the safest assisted living facility in Oregon for your parent or grandparent, start early and study all possible reviews, contact state organizations on aging, and visit several facilities before finally making the decision.

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