Realizing that your mother, father or a relative will need to move to an assisted living community is truly one of the most difficult decisions one can make. What’s even more difficult is that once you have made this tough decision, now you need to find the right assisted living community for them.
Of course, you want to find an assisted living facility that will keep them safe, well-cared for and happy, but you also want to choose the one that is the right fit for their lifestyle and personality. To make this process easier here are four essential steps to take when you want to find the best assisted living in Los Angeles.
Step 1: Decide on a Monthly Budget
Whether you like it or not, your monthly budget will be an important factor when finding assisted living in Los Angeles. Work with siblings and family members to determine what an appropriate budget will be. Also be sure to explore additional funding options such as social security benefits, veteran benefits, Medicaid assistance or cashing-in a life insurance policy or other property.
Step 2: Get Help. Consult an Assisted Living Advisor
Once you decide on a monthly budget, the next step is to consult with a senior living advisor who specializes in assisted living placement. A good assisted living advisor will help you determine your family members care needs and comfort requirements, and will then draw up a list of potential assisted living communities that meet these requirements. You may not know, but many assisted living advisors provide their service absolutely free and only receive a referral fee from the assisted living facility. For example, as placement advisors for finding assisted living in Los Angeles, our service is 100% free. And, unlike other larger placement advisors, we personally tour each facility with you and walk you through the complex options of each assisted living facility we recommend. For a free consultation please contact us.
Step 3: Include Your Parent or Loved One in The Search
It’s only natural, but oftentimes when researching all of the options available in assisted living in Los Angeles, we think about what features we might like rather than what our parent or loved will like. For example, if your loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s or dementia they may be better cared for by a facility whose staff are trained in memory care rather than a facility that is more focused on recreational and social activities which might cause them feelings of anxiety. It’s important to include your loved one as much as possible in the discussion and talk with them about their desires and preferences and what options are important to them.
Step 4: Visit Assisted Living Facilities in Person
Let’s face it, brochures, photos, and online reviews are a very poor substitute for seeing an assisted living community in person. Remember, each facility has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s a good idea to visit in person and see for yourself the culture of residents and staff in each community.
It’s also a good idea to have a list of questions prepared for each assisted living facility you visit such as:
- Are visits with the resident welcome at any time?
- Are staff available 24/7?
- What type of training does the staff complete?
- Are staff able to administer medication?
- Do you have licensed medical nurses on staff?
- Do you have an on-call physician?
- Are staff trained in memory care or Alzheimer’s disease?
- Do staff have experience dealing with (name of medical diagnosis)?
- Do you provide transportation for doctor’s appointments?
- What type of security and safety measures do you have?
- Do you provide recreational activities?
- Are there additional fees for activities or other services?
- Do you offer hospice care or end of life care?
As part of our assisted living placement service, we personally take you to visit the assisted living facilities that we think are suitable for your loved one and together we go through a comprehensive list of questions until you are satisfied that you understand all the options, policies, and benefits that each assisted living community offers.
Step 5: Make a Decision and Move Forward
We recommend that you visit at least three assisted living facilities before you make a decision. This way you can really get an idea of all of the complex options that are available for assisted living in Los Angeles. Have a conversation with your loved one and other family members and discuss the pros and cons of each assisted living community that you visit before you come to a decision on the community that you feel is the most appropriate. Finally, keep the ball rolling and make a decision and stick with it because oftentimes the best assisted living facilities fill-up quickly and there may even be a waitlist to get in.
