We all may be faced with assisted living at some point.  It may be us or a loved one That requires assisted living. What do you do when that day comes?  What you should do is get some information about it before you need it. I know there are all kinds of things that happen to us or our loved ones that are sudden and out of our control.  But there are instances where you may have a little time to do some research.

The more information you have the better off you are. One of the first things I would do is look for a facility that is close to family and friends.  Family visits can be very important to the person in the facility.  The more visits from family and friends the less isolating it is.  A sense of belonging is very important.  Make sure you can get phone calls or maybe emails to someone who may be in an assisted living facility.  My thought is the more communication to that person the better they will feel.

Assisted living is different than nursing home care or a senior retirement community.
In the case of a assisted living environment, the person usually needs help with day to day living.  Things such as taking a bath, getting dressed, and eating. This doesn’t cover personal or medical  care.  If those services are needed they must be provided from outside the assisted living facility.

Some Key points:
How much freedom and independence  will I have?
Are there different levels of care available?
Who decides the assisted living services or level of services a person will receive?
Is there more than one floor plan to choose from?
What kind of meal service does the assisted living facility provide?

I’d like to take a minute or two to touch on this point, the meals, because of nutrition and perhaps religious practices.  someone may require a kosher or vegetarian diet or someone who needs special foods because of nutritional needs.  Find out if the assisted living facility has a nutrition specialist that comes in and evaluates the person’s diet.

Will I be able to have guests at the assisted living facility?   How may guests may I have at one time?  Is there a specific visiting time or is it open all day and part of the evening?  What are the restrictions?

What happens in case of a natural catastrophe?  Who takes care of the evacuation? What is the plan?  Is there some special insurance to take care of that?  Is there a backup plan?
Ask to see the disaster plan for any facility you are considering?   Who takes care of the relocating if necessary for long term?

Some other questions:
Will the assisted living facility have any transportation for shopping or other activities?
Does the facility ever put on field trips?
Is this assisted living facility  equipped with hand rails and or pull cords?

Questions, Questions and more Questions seem to be the thrust of this article. Why?  Because no one facility has the same services or options.  Each one is different and by asking the right questions you can make better decisions on the choice of a assisted living facility.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Here are a few more questions for your list.

Is parking convenient to your living unit?
Is the parking area well lit?
Is there a security guard or a gated entrance to the assisted living facility?
Is public transportation available?

I wish you well in your search for an assisted living facility!

With workout facilities, pools, golf courses and trips, the aging communities today are not looking for their parents assisted living communities of the past. In fact, Baby Boomers are looking to live out their golden years packed full of as much adventure and fun as possible. <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingca.aspx>California assisted living</a>, Arizona, Florida and <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingMN.aspx>Minnesota assisted living facilities</a> are all changing their modern assisted living construction to reflect new attitudes about retirement living.

The New Look of Active Assisted Living Facilities Today
Besides all the modern safety features, furniture and designs of new assisted living facilities, seniors are also given a packed calendar of activities to choose from- encouraging active retirement, not just sitting and watching the days fly by.

From line-dancing instruction, ukulele club and wine tasting trips, senior assisted living facilities today are not so much retirement homes as they are active learning centers. Here are just some of the packed calendar events that are listed in many assisted living centers today.

???? Arts Programs and Events
???? Athletic and Sporting Events
???? Community Social Activities
???? Dance Programs and Events
???? Entertainment and Shows
???? Recreation Coordinated Events
???? Religious Services and Programs
???? Social Services Programs
???? Support Groups

People are living longer, so why should their ?living? be any different? That is the refreshing take on new assisted living and senior retirement centers today.
Seniors can learn guitar, learn to speak Italian and tackle that big quilting project they have wanted to finish with like-minded peers around them.

Assisted living facilities all over the United States are focusing on modernizing what used to be called nursing homes and changing the name to active senior communities. Instead of a cold cafeteria every 6 hours for meals, gourmet chefs prepare amazing dishes. Physical therapists and masseuse are often onsite to provide long term care. And if one group is heading out for a round of golf, another group is watching a ballet performance downtown. Just because you?ve reached your golden years, doesn?t mean they have to be stationary.

It is very likely as adult children of an aging parent that you have been asking these questions. Are Mom and/or Dad safe living at home? Would it be in their best interest to move to a senior living place? Helping your parents to decide to move to a retirement community, assisted living residence, or nursing home environment can be one of the most difficult and emotional decisions you will face. Be honest with yourself as you face this crossroad…. you have a responsibility to ensure that your parents are having their needs met in a safe and nurturing environment. Are you waiting for a crisis? Are you too busy with your own family and job? It’s easy for adult children to be in denial of a parent’s inability to manage on their own. A parent who may be struggling may not want to burden their children, nor do they want their children to be aware of their decline and changing needs for myriad reasons. Really … be honest as you ask yourself the following questions:

* Is Mom or Dad loosing weight? Are they eating nutritiously? Are they able to go to the market regularly for fresh food? Is the food in their refrigerator past expiration and spoiling?

* Is their clothing clean and in good shape? Do they change their outfits or wear the same one often?

* Are they living with safety in mind? Do they open their doors to strangers?

* Is mail being handled, or are their piles of disarray? Are bills being opened and paid?

* Is there a fear living alone? Are they reluctant to open up the door when there is a delivery?

* Is the residence clean and in good repair? If there is a yard, is it maintained?

* Has your parent had a fall in the house? Have you noticed bruises or are they covering them up from you so that you don’t get concerned?

* Are medications labeled and being taken as directed? Are they able to see well enough to handle their own medications?

* Is your parent keeping up with their medical/dental appointments and/or able to manage transportation to their appointments?

* Are reactions appropriate in case of an emergency? Is their judgment strong on knowing what to do if they had to react quickly to avoid danger?

* Are they isolated, no longer socializing and enjoying activities as they did in the past? Does your parent have many friends left in their area?

* Do you see the same personality or do they have melancholy days? Do they have signs of depression?

* If one parent is frail or in need of assistance… Is the other parent exhausted as a caregiver? Is the well parent now starting to suffer physically?

Regardless of where you are in the process, contact Accent on Seniors to help you, at no charge to you, to understand your options for senior living, when home may no longer be the most appropriate choice throughout California.

Copyright ? 2008, Accent on Seniors Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical is not permitted.

One of the first things you should do is assess your situation or whomever it is that will be receiving the assisted living care.  What will the short term and long term needs be?  Is there adequate storage in the unit?  Can I move into another unit later?  How many floor plans does the assisted living care facility have?  Will my unit be  upstairs or down stairs?  Take a tour of the different homes and or floor plans available. Get a feel for the place you may be living.  You want to feel comfortable in your new surroundings.

Start looking at a assisted living care facility close to family and friends.  You want to be close to family and friends because that will help you feel connected.  Find out about the meal service.  Will you be provided with special dietary foods if necessary?  What if I have special dietary needs because of my religion?  Ask if you can join in and have a meal at the facility before you make a commitment.  This is a great way to check out the food service at the assisted living care center you are considering.

This article is riddled with questions because you are going into a new life changing experience and you want all the information you can get.  I’ve raised a few questions and that’s only the tip of the ice burg.  Here are a few more questions to think about.

What type of recreational activities does this assisted living care center provide?
Are the activities enough to keep me occupied and interested?
Will the activities offered at the facility help me physically?
Does this assisted living care center offer transportation?
Is there public transportation nearby?
In the event of a natural disaster what is the evacuation plan?
In the unlikely event of long term relocation due to natural disaster who takes care of that and is there some kind of insurance that will cover the cost?
Is there a medical facility close by?
Is there a security guard and if so is there a guard on duty 24 hours?
How many guards are there?
Is there a gate at the entrance of the facility?
Is any of the staff trained in CPR?
Can I keep my pet?
Are the bathroom amenities set  up for the elderly, such as having hand rails and pull cords.
How far away will I be from my personal doctor?
What kind of worship services are offered?

You need to think about all sorts of other questions as well.  Sit down with a pad and paper and as you go through the day jot down some of your normal activities.  Listing your activities may help you to choose an assisted living care center that will meet your needs.

1. If you need it it is close.

2. If a family member is in need you can visit very easy.

3. If you do volunteer work you don’t have to travel far