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Assisted living homes are alternative residential housing communities that provide long-term care for elderly individuals who require frequent personal aid, including help with dressing, bathing, and eating. Essentially, these personal care facilities provide your loved ones with either supervision or assistance with their everyday lives. While this form of care guarantees that there are trained medical staff and professionals available when needed, it does not strip away your loved one's sense of individuality and independence. Couple vs. Individual Placement It is important to accommodate the social and medical needs of both individuals when placing a couple in the care of these facilities. Alternatively, with an individual placement, it is obviously much easier to be flexible, as the facility will only need to provide for the needs of a single residence. Some of the realities to consider include the availability of space, such as the apartment sizing and number of bedrooms, as well as the frequency of visits from the personal care attendants and staff. It may not seem like a big deal at first, but placing an individual in couple-oriented facilities or vice versa could greatly impact the quality of the experience for your loved one as well as their subsequent mood and health. Ask the Right Questions Much like any major life change, research is paramount. Part of that research process involves asking the right questions. When seeking an assisted living home for your loved ones, it is important to ask the questions that will help you make the best choice for your elderly family member's future home. To begin, you should ask the following questions: -Should my loved ones be considering an assisted living home based on their circumstances? -Are meals provided? -Is transportation a part of the package? -Does your facility allow pets, and if so, which ones? -What are the associated costs, and do you offer or accept income assistance (i.e. Medicaid and Medicare)? Check the Contract Though it seems as though it should be common knowledge, many consumers still sign contracts without thoroughly examining the fine print. And while that's fine for certain common services, you should be sure to know what you're getting into when it comes to your assisted living home. Check to ensure that the answers to all of your questions appear in writing in the contract, including the provided services, the costs, and the level of care provided. It is also important to check the fine print to see what will happen if your loved one requires a higher level of care as time goes on. The contract should show that the staff regularly assesses the level of care required of each resident and that you will be notified of any increase in the overall cost of care. In addition, some assisted living homes are ill-equipped to deal with residents whose medical needs or cognitive abilities begin to decline too severely, so it is important to find out what the highest level of care is and how the contract will be terminated if your loved one surpasses this. The contract should note the procedure for discharging a resident, and there should be a clause stating that the management will give at least a month's advance notice. Once you have thoroughly vetted the facilities in your area, you can feel confident that you've found the perfect place for your loved one, ensuring their continued health and independence for years to come. When seeking an ideal assisted living home, Daphne, AL residents can learn more by visiting http://allianceseniorservices.com/.
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