The
search for a retirement home can be daunting. But when the research is done,
and the visits are made, finding the right place comes down to basic questions
for the family and the older adult.
"You
ask yourself, "¢Would I want to be here?' Would I be happy here?" says Laurie
Petrie, communications director for the Council on Aging for Southwest Ohio.
In
other words, experts say the search for a retirement community should be framed
with the personality of the older adult in mind. For example, does the person
prefer a cozier, smaller, quiet environment, or would a larger, bustling place
chock full of activities be better? Consequently, the facility a person will be
happiest in may not necessarily be the most fancy or expensive. It just needs
to feel like home.
As
Petrie puts it: "As best as you can, match the level of care you need with what
the facility offers. Do the amenities suit your needs and interests?"
Social
workers say, not surprisingly, one of the biggest mistakes families and seniors
make is putting off a decision on assisted living so that a move becomes too
rushed and stressful. Petrie points out that visiting, interviewing and
researching retirement communities is time-consuming. Whenever possible,
seniors and families need to make plans early to allow time to visit and
explore various communities.
Petrie
says even before the search begins, a family should be sure they have explored
all possibilities for in-home care.
"People
should be aware there is that option rather than instantly deciding they have
to be in a facility," she says. "The mission of the Council on Aging is to
encourage people to remain in home and community settings as long as they can.
That is, of course, what most prefer."
While
certainly not cheap, home care can still be less expensive in the long run,
given the cost of assisted living and nursing care facilities, according to
Petrie. Once the search is under way, families will find that retirement
communities, from the more spartan to the luxurious, usually have one common
thread these days "” activities. It has been perhaps the biggest change in
retirement living in the last few decades.
"The
level of activities available to residents are tenfold of what they were 25
years ago," says Rita Postolski, a social worker with 40 years of experience in
senior care and the manager of assisted living at Cedar Village in Mason. "It
used to be residents didn't get out of the facility much. That's now very
different. Also, the level of care in terms of rehab facilities is remarkable.
There has been a dramatic change."
A
typical weekly activities list at a typical retirement community can include trips
to the racetrack, art museum, playhouse or symphony. In-house activities abound
that go well beyond the stereotypical bingo game, such as poker clubs,
investment clubs or a Wii bowling league.
"There
has been a recognition that just warehousing people is not good," says Petrie.
"The whole residential care industry has taken that to heart. They have made
their facilities more homelike, engaging the residents more and recognizing
they are going to do better if they are active."
When
touring a facility, Postolski advises soaking in the sights, smells and
ambiance.
Her
checklist includes: "Try the food, see the accommodations. Do they offer
opportunities to get out? How often? What kind of choices can you make about
eating? Do they have emergency call buttons? What is the access to doctors in
the facility? What kind of checks is there on people not feeling well? Can you
go take a walk? Are there places to walk?"
While
policies may differ among the communities, Potolski says she does encourage
people to drop by at least once without an appointment to "see if the residents
are happy. Are they active, involved?"
Petrie
says one of the best indicators of care is to watch how the staff treats the
residents. "It is also a good idea to try to talk to the facility's long-term
care ombudsman whose job is to advocate for the residents living there," she
says.
Experts
say it is obviously a good idea, if possible, to seek a place with a continuum
of care in case an assisted-living adult should need temporary or permanent
nursing care. Also, a facility that offers physical therapy and has regular
visits from specialists are huge pluses.
Petrie
says that as a rule, there seems to be little difference in the quality of care
between nonprofit or for-profit facilities. Since many nonprofit communities
are faith-based, that may be a plus for a resident.
"Some
of the faith-based nonprofits will have philanthropic funds to help residents
who are in a facility and whose financial resources run out," Petrie says.
"They are often interested in serving a diverse clientele as part of their
mission."
Experts
say there is no single go-to independent consumer ratings guide for those in
the market for a retirement home. But here are a number of tools:
- Ohio Department of
Aging publishes a "Long-term Care Consumer Guide"
- State of Ohio
inspection reports are available, and
- Medicare.gov offers
information, alternatives to nursing homes and information on every
Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country.