The Ultimate Guide To Senior & Elder Care Planning

By Stefanie Shumaker, M.Div.

You will first want to identify your aging loved one’s situation and needs, then do some research on the various types of care centers available. Anyone can move into a long-term care center, but the type of center your loved one moves into will be determined according to their physical needs and financial capabilities.

Which long-term care option would be best for your loved one?

Independent living: A single home or town home located in a community that offers the security and social activities of a community while a senior remains self-sufficient.

Assisted living: An apartment within a building that provides 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing and toileting, but it does not provide 24-hour medical care.

Skilled nursing: A private or shared room in a building that provides 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living and medical care provided by nurses and therapists.

Memory care: A community setting for persons with dementia that provides security, social activities and medical care 24 hours a day.

When checking out a particular care center, these are some of the questions you may want to ask:

1. If a person wants to maintain their independence and begin with independent or assisted living care, are there increased care options available at this facility to meet the needs of someone who further declines? The fewer moves or changes made in the later years, the better.

2. What is the staff turnover rate at the facility? Consistency is important
in the life of someone who declines, especially those who experience increased confusion and memory loss.

3. What does a social or activity calendar look like over the course of a month?

4. What is your approach to a resident who rarely comes out of their room and self- isolates? Elderly people decline at a faster rate when isolated, so being aware of the social life at the care center will help you know how to balance your family’s ongoing presence in your loved one’s life.