The original idea of “assisted living” was to give generally healthy elders a social option to offset the isolation of living alone. They were not intended to be medical facilities.
But things have changed in the 40 years since inception! Now, 41% of residents have dementia or moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment. One out of ten has a serious mental illness. More than half are 85 or older.
Assisted living communities are also experiencing staff shortages and high turnover. With a needier population, employees need far more specialized training than they did in the past. For dementia care, certainly. Also for infection control, as came to light during the pandemic. And end-of-life care. It’s hard to know which communities have adequately trained staff.
Choosing an assisted living facility. If an assisted living facility seems like a good fit for your relative, your next step may be a Google search for available options. Placement agencies will offer “free” referrals. These agencies receive a fee from the facilities for bringing in a new client. They may only show you those that provide the highest fee. For objective recommendations, hire a care manager. They will assess your relative and give you suggestions based on the support your loved one requires and the facilities best suited to meet those needs. Also the ones with the lowest staff turnover and those that fit your budget.
When you tour a facility, be sure to talk to the frontline staff. Ask how long they’ve worked there and what they like about their jobs. Also ask about staff training offered through the facility. Look for clues in their body language that suggest their level of comfort about speaking freely.
Recognize that this may not be your relative’s last move. The median stay is 22 months. About 60% of residents leave to go to nursing homes. Others move in with family or move to a different facility.
Considering an assisted living community for your loved one?
Give us a call at 1-800-789-0586 (toll-free). As the Roanoke and Lynchburg experts in family caregiving, we at Gentle Shepherd Hospice understand what’s important to families. We know the local facilities very well—which ones have the best reputation and which have staffing problems.
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