Several weeks ago, a dear family friend of mine suffered a devastating stroke. For a few days, his family members didn’t know if he would survive this event. Thankfully, he did. Now, he is undergoing the slow recovery process in a nursing home. Since his stroke, his family has been amazing. They visit him daily at the nursing facility. They have even decorated his room in an effort to make him feel like he is at home. If your loved one has recently been admitted to a nursing home, don’t despair. You may be able to help your loved one adjust to this living situation better by being supportive. On this blog, you will discover the ways to make your loved one’s transition to a nursing home easier.
A Home Away from Home
Three Topics to Inquire About When You're Touring a Retirement Home
Johnny Rodriguez
Moving your aged parents into a retirement home isn't a process that you should rush. If you're able, it's beneficial to select a handful of suitable facilities in your community and arrange tours or attend open houses. Doing so gives you not only the chance to evaluate the premises with your parents, but to also speak to staff members and have some questions answered. While it's important to avoid dominating the conversation -- you need to let your parents ask questions and have their concerns addressed, after all -- you shouldn't be shy about raising issues that you feel are worth discussing. Here are three such issues that you can bring up to a staff member.
Nutrition and Dietary Needs
Given that your parents will be giving up cooking upon moving into the retirement home, it's important for you to assess that the facility's kitchen staff can provide residents with a diet that is nutritious. Don't hesitate to ask for a copy of a week's meal plan so you can evaluate the nutritional value of the meals and snacks. Doing so is especially important if your parents have specific dietary needs -- for example, a special diet for their diabetes or high cholesterol. In addition to ensuring that the kitchen staff can accommodate your folks in this area, ask if a nutritionist is employed by the retirement home. Having someone working on-site or who visits regularly can help your health-conscious parents.
Social Events Calendar
A retirement home's calendar of social events is important to evaluate -- and it becomes even more valuable if your parents plan on giving up their vehicle upon moving into their new home. Look to see if the home has a full-time programming director and staff and a calendar that offers multiple events daily. It's ideal to confirm that these events are varied in nature and that they occasionally take residents outside the home's walls -- for example, a trip to a nearby theater or shopping center.
Accessibility
If your parents are facing mobility challenges, it's critical to evaluate the retirement home's accessibility. Common areas and the exterior of the building should have ramps in addition to stairs, while hallways should be lined with handrails and resident suites should have accessible showers. You want to be sure that your parents can get around their new home with ease and not find themselves limited in any way simply because of a mobility issue.
With these tips in mind, check into all your local options. You may also want to consider looking into the websites of local facilities, such as hillcrestassistedlivingcolumbia.com.
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