HELPING PARENTS CHOOSE A LIVING COMMUNITY

Here’s the story why I thought to talk about “Helping your parents choose a living community”

As soon as Mother was 65, I started talking to her about her move to Virginia and looking for a high-rise neighborhood near Delaware. Originally from New York, he owned a popular tavern on Long Island for almost 20 years. After selling his business, he moved to Virginia to live a full and stressful life. My wife and I relocated to Virginia for a few years, but eventually, we decided to keep Delaware close and in the middle of our two families.

“When my mother retired, she was still very active”

Even after two hip replacements, she still cuts his lawn, gardens, and walks with his Labradoodle, Marley, several times a day. Her home is always clean and she still cooks all her famous, delicious food. She also looks after local cats by including them in the spay / neuter local system and adopts his favorite Mr. Kitt, who has two different colored eyes.

Needless to say, a high ‘independent’ living community that allows pets should. Marley is also aging and we know many high-quality communities do not allow large dogs. So, you will definitely have to wait until Marley crosses the rainbow bridge before leaving. And we totally agree. However, it is also important to start a conversation about adult life sooner rather than later. Sometimes there are waiting lists or financial worries, so it’s best to have the ball roll when you start thinking about walking.

“At first, the discussion of moving to a higher society was a bit difficult”

In Virginia, she has a wonderful support system with many friends, her home, and pets. However, he lives alone and now that COVID is a problem, he also wants to be close to us and his family in NY. She is also tired of taking care of her home and would like to enjoy more time and comfort. Now, he is actually looking forward to his next sacrifice.

COVID has really made the process of finding a higher living community very difficult, so my wife and I have been doing a lot of research online and taking visitors to your area. I give mom all the details so she can make her own decision. We have been to Delaware, Maryland, and parts of New Jersey. We live in the simplest part of Delaware with many communities in all those provinces and less than an hour from there. I am happy to say that there are 3 communities we are considering right now.

Now that I have been in the process for a year, here are my top 5 tips from my own experience on how to help your parents find the right high-quality living community.

1. Decide on the most appropriate type of high society to live by your parent’s needs while “Helping parents to choose a living community”.

With my mother still working hard and wanting more time and free time, it was clear that Independent Living was the right decision for her. But depending on the health of your parent or loved one, the most common types are,

Independent Living  

Independent living is perfect for those who still enjoy an active lifestyle and desire more freedom to follow their passions. Citizens need not worry about such things as homeownership, maintenance, and land reform. They will spend most of their time doing things they love in an environment designed to feel and function as a home.

Assisted Life

Assisted living is a great way for people who need help with daily activities such as medication management, dressing, bathing, housekeeping, and food. It gives you peace of mind and allows you to spend more quality time with your loved ones.

Memory Care

Memory care services provide quality care and support for adults living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. With gentle guidance and visual reminders, these programs provide a safe, secure environment with jobs that meet the level of skills of the resident and allow them to thrive even with advanced disease paths.

Continuity of Retirement Care Community

A progressive care retirement community (CCRC) offers multiple levels of care on a single campus, meaning you do not need to travel even if your health care needs to change in the future. They offer a complete range of personalized services and care options that fit your lifestyle.

2. Start with appropriate starting conversations about adult life while “Helping parents to choose a living community”.

Starting a conversation can be very difficult. Try one of these conversations.

• If you do not have to take care of your house, what would you like to do with this extra free time?
• Have you felt lonely lately? Would you like to meet new people your age?
• Do you still enjoy living alone? Are you afraid or worried about your safety? (Feel free to discuss specific safety issues such as fighting in the kitchen or bathroom, managing finances or trophies, and falls or difficulty walking.
• Have you ever had difficulty keeping your debts or managing your money lately?
• Have you ever considered hiring someone to help with housekeeping?
• Are you worried about driving or driving your car? What if you no longer have to worry about your departure?

3. Discuss the kind of life that is important to your parents and decide on a budget.

Every high living society has a variety of resources, features, and services that appeal to different types of people. Some are like living in a park. Create a wish list based on your parent’s needs, budget, and preferences. Knowing what your parents can pay each month for living expenses will be very important when you consider the community. Start your search online and you will find a wealth of information in different communities that match their terms. For example, Brook dale Senior Living offers 740 different high-income communities in 45 states. Limit your selection to the top three that seem like the right fit and plan a trip.

4. Plan a visit to each community and ask more questions while “Helping parents to choose a living community”.

Scheduling visits to a higher living community is easy and can be done online or over the phone. I would suggest that I do it more than twice a day and make each visit more complete. If possible, make time for community outings with your parents. Bring a list of their concerns and questions, to get a complete idea of ​​each community. Were the staff welcoming and friendly? Do the residents look happy? Are all spaces in the community clean and well maintained? Feel free to ask to take part in one of their programs or activities, or try to eat at their restaurant. Taking a trip is an opportunity to gather a lot of information from both staff and residents. Do not be shy. Ask them what it is like to live and work there.

5. Let the final decision be your parents while “Helping parents to choose a living community”.

Definitely help every step of the way and provide constructive guidance. However, the final decision of the community they choose should be entirely up to them. After all, they are the ones who live there. After visiting each community, ask your parent’s many questions. Like:

• What was your first impression of the community?
• Enjoy food and lifestyle there?
• Did you enjoy meeting certain staff or residents?
• Is this community where you can feel at home?

It is your responsibility to support them as they make these life-changing decisions.

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