10 Insanely Helpful Tips to Find the Right Assisted Living Facility for a Loved One

assisted living facility

The elderly population in the U.S. has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last 20 years. There were only 35 million people over the age of 65 back in 2000, but that number has since swelled to around 50 million people.

The number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, too. But 2030, about 20 percent of the entire population will be over 65. The U.S. is quickly becoming what is being called an “aging nation.”

If you have a parent, a spouse, or another loved one that is aging, you might be forced to find them an assisted living facility soon.

There are tens of thousands of these facilities all over the country. They’re designed to help people age gracefully while providing them with all the assistance they could ever want or need.

Here are 10 tips for finding the right assisted living facility for your loved one.

1. Put Together a List of Assisted Living Facilities in Your Area

How many assisted living facilities are there in your area right now?

If you’ve never had to look for one before, you might be surprised by how many there actually are. They’re opening up at a rapid rate in towns all across America.

Begin by sitting down and putting together a long list of the facilities in your general area. This will allow you to do more research on each facility later.

2. Ask Friends or Family Members If They Can Recommend a Good Facility

Do you know someone who lives in an assisted living facility? Or do you have a friend or family member who just finished the search for a facility for their loved one?

Check in with them and see if they can provide you with a recommendation. If you can swing it, this is the best way to track down the right facility for your loved one since you’ll get a first-hand report about what a specific facility has to offer.

3. Check Online Reviews for Facilities That Look Like Good Options

If you aren’t able to get any recommendations for assisted living facilities from friends and family members, use the internet to your advantage.

Do a Google search for each assisted living facility in your area and read the reviews that pop up for them. Pay close attention to both the good and bad reviews for specific facilities.

By doing this, you can narrow your search down and eliminate facilities that won’t be good options.

4. Take a Tour of the Facilities You Like Best

Once you have a list of five or six assisted living facilities that might work for your loved one, schedule tours at each place.

During a tour, you’ll be able to see everything from where your loved one will live to where they’ll eat to where they’ll hang out and congregate with other people living in a facility.

Bring a notebook along and generate a list of the pros and cons of each facility. This will help you have a more productive conversation with your loved one after the tours are finished.

5. Speak Directly With Employees at Assisted Living Facilities

In addition to taking tours of the assisted living facilities in your area, speak with the employees who work at them as well.

Your loved one is going to be in their care if they move into the facility. Make sure the employees are warm and welcoming to you and your loved one.

You should also try to arrange meetings with the directors of each assisted living facility. This will give you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have about a facility.

6. Talk to People Who Live at Facilities as Well

Most of the people who work at an assisted living facility are probably going to have nothing but good things to say about it. That is kind of to be expected.

If you feel like you’re not getting enough information from them, ask to speak with several people who live at the assisted living facilities you’re checking out. These people will be more open to telling you how things really are inside a specific facility.

7. See Which Facility Your Loved One Seems to Enjoy the Most

At the end of the day, your loved one is the one who is going to have to spend almost all their time at an assisted living facility.

They should, therefore, play an integral role in picking out the facility they enjoy the most. Don’t forget to stay in constant contact with them to see which facility they want to live in.

8. Consider Assisted Living Facilities in Neighboring Areas

If you plan on visiting your loved one at their assisted living facility once they move in, you don’t want to pick a place that’s too far from your home.

But don’t rule out the possibility of your loved one living in a neighboring town or city if the assisted living facilities are better there. It would be a real shame if you cut this facility off your list simply because you’re unwilling to drive an extra 5 or 10 minutes to see your loved one.

You ultimately want your loved one to end up in the best place possible for them. If that means looking outside your immediate area, so be it.

9. Choose the Facility That Works Best for Everyone

After you’ve taken all these steps, you and your loved one should be ready to pick out the assisted living facility that is right for everyone.

As long as it’s within your budget and designed to cater to your loved one’s needs, sign on the dotted line and help them move in right away.

10. Make Sure Your Loved One Likes the Facility Both Now and in the Future

Just because your loved one moves into an assisted living facility doesn’t mean they have to stay there forever.

If for any reason, your loved one says they don’t feel comfortable living at a facility, you have the option of packing up their things and moving them out. Check in with your loved one from time to time to see how they’re doing in their facility.

Start Searching for an Assisted Living Facility for a Loved One Today

Is it time to find an assisted living facility for your loved one?

Don’t allow the search to overwhelm you! While it’s a big decision to make, it’s one you and your loved one can make easily if you use the tips listed here to your benefit.

Read our blog to learn more helpful tips that you can use throughout your life.

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