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Accepting that it’s time for an aging loved one to sell their home and move to an assisted living or memory care community can be difficult. Many adult children put off talking about senior living because they don’t know where or how to start the search for a care community.
Challenges in Choosing Senior Care:
- Complex options: Navigating the various senior care options, like assisted living, nursing homes, and home care, can be overwhelming for families.
- Lack of knowledge: Families may lack the necessary knowledge and expertise to evaluate different facilities, compare costs, and understand the legalities involved.
- Emotional stress: Making senior care decisions often comes with emotional strain for families, adding to the complexity of the process.
This is where local senior care advisors can help you find the right living arrangement for your loved one. A survey by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) found that 68% of respondents used some form of professional assistance when choosing a senior care option. Local senior care advisors, like Assisted Living Locators, offer support and guidance through every step of the senior living search process.
How Can a Local Senior Care Advisor Help?
1. Understanding options
Local senior care advisors educate families on the variety of care options and local providers who might be a good fit. Saving time and money, they help families narrow their focus to the right level of care and the communities or home care agencies that meet the senior’s personal criteria.
2. Insider view
With access to insider knowledge of the senior care market, an experienced senior care advisor knows the ins and outs of the homes and communities in your area. Senior living communities vary widely in costs, services, amenities, resident demographics and social programs. Your advisor can discuss each feature with you, matching you with the options that meet your family’s unique needs and preferences.
3. Needs assessment
Local senior care advisors provide an in-depth needs assessment of all your aging loved ones, along with thoughtful analysis and recommendations for best-fit care options. Families can begin their assessment process with an easy-to-use online needs assessment tool on the Assisted Living Locators website. This is followed up with a virtual in-take interview via phone or video call.
4. Evaluating communities
Local senior care advisors will schedule in-person or online tours for you with qualified vetted home health, hospice, assisted living, memory care and adult family homes. During the coronavirus pandemic, they will provide you with status updates on visitation and acceptance of move-ins for assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities in your area. Advisors also offer home care support to ensure a safe home environment for your senior or to help with the activities of daily living during COVID-19.
5. Family dynamics
Your advisor understands how complex this stage of life can be for a family. Discussions with your advisor can cover everything from how to have sensitive conversations with your loved ones to how to finance care and help your loved one prepare for the future.
6. Help with the transition
Local senior care advisors have resources for additional support throughout your caregiving journey, such as skilled home health, moving companies, elder law attorneys, and hospice. They can help you make this emotional transition as smooth as possible.
Assisted Living Locators is a FREE placement and referral service with a nationwide network of local senior care advisors that are dementia care certified. We are your partner in finding the right senior living option.
