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Selecting a community or care home is a "process" and it's best if you can take your time to go through the steps to arrive at your decision. Emergencies happen, but it's always beneficial to do the research so you don't have to move during a crisis. The last thing you want to do is move again. Take time to go through the process. Remember finding the best fit for your family is worth it!
During our initial meeting, I want to learn as much as I can about your situation to determine what is most important to you in selecting the best community or care home to suit your needs. Your main consideration may be the level of care, but other factors like the size of the room, dining style, pet friendly atmosphere, social activities and other factors should be considered. My job is to drill down and discover what is going to make you most comfortable when selecting your new environment. I want you to have peace of mind knowing that you or your family member is safe and loved in their new home.
There are many factors to consider when making a decision. It is most helpful if you disclose this information to me because not every community will be appropriate. My hope is that you find a place that you love and that satisfies most of the items on your list. Remember, no community is perfect, but you will know when you find the right one.
The things we will discuss are:
- Location, Location, Location! You most likely want to be close to family, a hospital and your doctors' offices.
- Dining Options and Food Choices - Good nutrition is good medicine and appealing, tasty meals are one of the joys of life. This is especially important if you have specific dietary concerns or limitations.
- Current and Anticipated Care Needs - Level and type: Supervisory, personal and/or directed care?
- Budget - What are you options? Private pay? VA Benefit and/or Long Term Care Insurance?
- Style of Home - Apartment or casita? Efficiency, one-bedroom or two-bedroom?
- Amenities - What features do you value in a community? Pool? Fitness center? Outdoor space? Library? Laundry rooms? Hair and nail salon?
- Featured services desired - Housekeeping, laundry, transportation, recreation, excursions, exercise groups, pet friendly? Sewing, book groups, gardening, card or quilting clubs? Religious Services?
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Following our first meeting, I will preview communities or care homes based on the information you provide. I'll select the top 3 and set up appointments for us to tour and possibly have lunch (a great way to observe the residents and get a "vibe" about the environment and social interaction). You should feel comfortable and at ease in the surroundings. Take a look at the people who live there. Do they look happy and clean? Is the staff friendly? Is the community clean and odorless? Feel free to ask questions of me, the person conducting the tour, staff members or residents. Some communities will offer a meeting with the nurse if you have specific care questions.
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Once you've toured the communities on our list, then it's up to you to make a decision. I encourage families to go back on their own and take another look. This enables you to see what goes on if you arrive unannounced without and appointment. If your decision is to move forward, the next step is to put down a deposit to hold the apartment/room. We then set up a follow up meeting to discuss move in date, details on the move, etc.
Any move will require a TB test. If you're moving to Independent living you will not need doctor's orders, but if you're going to live in Assisted Living or Memory Care, then the you're required by state law to have signed doctor's orders from your primary care physician. Many times the community will facilitate this process. I can also help by delivering orders (or picking up) from your doctor or hospitalist to ensure that all paperwork is complete PRIOR to move in.
Any move will require a TB test. If you're moving to Independent living you will not need doctor's orders, but if you're going to live in Assisted Living or Memory Care, then the you're required by state law to have signed doctor's orders from your primary care physician. Many times the community will facilitate this process. I can also help by delivering orders (or picking up) from your doctor or hospitalist to ensure that all paperwork is complete PRIOR to move in.