Your loved one will soon need extra care, and you’ve taken the time to tour personal care communities to ensure they are welcoming and supportive environments that provide the care your loved one needs. What comes next? You attended the tours with the list of your “wants” and “needs” in hand, but there are still a handful of follow-up questions you can ask your loved one to clarify their expectations before the move.
What is personal care?
Before you begin, learn a little bit more about what personal care, particularly here at Diakon Senior Living, provides. Personal care, also known as assisted living in some states, is supportive care and programming for older adults in a residential environment. In addition to providing a healthy lifestyle, personal care promotes social interaction and boasts many services and amenities.
Standard personal care services include help with dressing, bathing, using the bathroom and medication management. Residents are typically provided with housekeeping, meals, laundry, transportation services, and social programs and activities. Staff is on-site 24/7, providing residents with safety, care and support. Residents are encouraged to bring furniture and personal items from home.
Residents’ needs are assessed when they move in, resulting in a plan tailored to their individual needs. Some personal care communities offer memory care as well. In these communities, knowledgeable and caring staff provide care for residents with memory loss problems so that they can live their best quality of life.
After touring a personal care community, regrouping with your loved one and discussing your impressions is a good idea.
Asking the following questions provides a way to continue the conversation about the move to personal care. Since you are the person who toured the community, you’re in the best position to report your findings to your loved one.
Regardless of your loved one’s understanding, it’s a good idea to frame questions in terms of benefits to them, amenities they can enjoy and the peace of mind that comes from moving into Diakon personal care:
- As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) or Life Plan Community, the staff will always be there to assist with whatever you need. What do you think about having help around the clock?
- This personal care community provides three meals a day. How do you feel about never having to cook another meal?
- They have a full, varied activities calendar. Let’s look at it together. Is there anything you’ve been interested in lately?
- The staff will assist you and your neighbors with medication management. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a trained, caring professional to help you stay on track?
- This personal care community provides transportation services, entertainment, a salon and more. Would you like to visit together?
