Assessing Your Needs for Senior Housing

It’s important to carefully assess all your needs when choosing senior housing. Major considerations include:


Cost:

What resources do you have to pay for senior housing? You may want to speak with a financial planner or estate attorney to help you understand and organize your options.


Location:

It’s best to find senior housing that is convenient for relatives and friends to visit. The more you visit your loved ones, the more secure you are that they are being cared for properly and are happy. If your loved one has to be cared for in a different state, try to choose a location that is convenient for friends or support group members and that is familiar to your loved one.


Care Services:

Assess all of the care needs of the person who is moving to senior housing. Health issues are most important and if the person has special care needs, such as for Alzheimer's disease, tendency to fall, disabilities, etc., make certain that the facility you choose is trained in handling those specific situations. Some facilities require a care evaluation from an assessment nurse.


Room Type:

Moving to senior housing is sometimes a difficult adjustment, so it’s important to try and find the best type of room in a residential home or apartment-style living in a larger community. Check how many people are sharing a room.


Meals:

Try to visit a facility at mealtime. Are the residents provided a suitable area for eating? How does the food smell? Is the food healthy? Do residents have input into meal planning or options to eat ethnic or specialty foods? Are healthy snacks available at all times? Are utensils and serving dishes senior-friendly and clean? Is mealtime a pleasant experience? Are those who need help with eating cared for with dignity and respect? If you live nearby and want to bring food in, is it allowed? Can the residents eat in their rooms?


Meals:

Try to visit a facility at mealtime. Are the residents provided a suitable area for eating? How does the food smell? Is the food healthy? Do residents have input into meal planning or options to eat ethnic or specialty foods? Are healthy snacks available at all times? Are utensils and serving dishes senior-friendly and clean? Is mealtime a pleasant experience? Are those who need help with eating cared for with dignity and respect? If you live nearby and want to bring food in, is it allowed? Can the residents eat in their rooms?


Activities:

Find out what activities, if any, are available for residents. Are there options? Does the facility organize activities in the community, such as shopping, movies or visiting a local park? Are there planned exercise times to keep residents moving and active? Are all residents offered activities at their level of mobility? Are computers available?


Amenities:

Think about the things that would make the potential resident feel “at home”, such as telephone access, TV in the room, courtyard or outside area, space to garden, windows that open, temperature control in rooms, pet therapy, music therapy, outings, “quiet” areas, location in a senior-friendly part of town, housekeeping, massage therapy, privacy and any other desired amenities that add up to a higher quality of life.


Transportation:

Some residents may need transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, shopping areas, outside activities such as movies or entertainment or visits to friends and family. If transportation is required, check to make sure that it’s available and provided in safe vehicles with drivers who are carefully screened.