6 Ways to choose an Assisted Living Center for your aging parents. Sensible Choices.
It is sometimes difficult to face, but when assisted living services must be considered, certain living standards must be met.Be prepared for some major physical and emotional changes that occur when an aging parent or spouse stays in your home. If a 24 hour, or a supported living facility, certain basic needs must be carefully considered. These are excellent ideas that may guide you to secure and establish principles to help you through the process of determining end of life living arrangements for your parent, your loved one, or your friend.
1. Choose an agency who is state licensed to provide basic services. Check their track record by contacting people who use this agency. This license is issued by your state, and can be easily tracked.
2. Visit the Administrative Office. Talk to the Administrative staff. Do NOT read the literature in this office. It is often propaganda.Regulatory Agencies must meet state guidelines to be certified. But, human services extend far beyond the parameters of the office in which you sit. However, you do need to know exactly what services are provided, Listen carefully. Consider the physical and mental abilities of your family member or friend.Does the facility fulfill the needs of your loved one? How does it smell inside the halls? In the common areas?
3. Visit the halls, dining halls and common areas of the whole facility. You can learn from what you observe. How does it smell? What are the residents doing? Is there an activity schedule posted? How are residents selected to attend these activities?Watch staff as they move among the residents. Listen for residents who call out for help? Do this observation different times during the day to get an understanding of the 24 hour schedule.
4. Bring your loved one to the facility for a meal, a visit to an activity, to observe normal routines, or an off campus activity. Observe interaction of the staff to those persons who are less able to help themselves eat, or participate in an activity.Consider the things that your family member enjoys now, or used to enjoy?Engage yourself with some of the activities. How do the residents participate? How will your family member feel?There should be an activity that takes the place of the mindless, obsessive hand or body movements that indicate stagnation and boredom? How does the facility smell? How do the residents smell? What products are used to lessen or reduce human smells? Are residents encouraged to bathe regularly? Who assists? How do the residents smell?
5. Would you be able to live here? Until you actually participate for more than one observation, it is difficult to determine if this facility is right for your family member. However, once the decision is made, vigilance is necessary.How genuine is her/his smile? Take time to look behind the outward expression. Use your sense of smell to monitor halls, rooms, and your family member. Smell is one strong indicator of how well cared for he/she is in this setting.Go right to the head of the department to voice a complaint. Do it forcefully, and kindly!
6. When odor becomes an issue, here is a product you can trust. Nok-Out. Nok-Out is a strong anti bacterial, anti viral, odor prevention and eliminating agent that safely and completely destroys odors and at the same time eliminates all pathogens of significance in the environment.Nok-Out is safe for fabric, mattresses, bathrooms, floors, skin or as a wash. Nok-Out is hypoallergenic, non-toxic, EPA registered to kill germs, bacteria, viruses, mold and mildew, but is totally safe and biodegradable for all surfaces, smooth, rough, hard or soft. For more information, try this number: 866.551.1927, or www.nokout.com. This product WILL remove all odors.Nok-Out will not harm fragile skin. It WILL make life easier when odors permeate the air, and cling to clothing.
