The last two of our Touring Tips in this series are:
- Tip 9: Inquire if residents are ever asked to move out.
- Tip 10: Trust Your Gut
Tip 9: Inquire if residents are ever asked to move out. If so, under what circumstances? Be wary of the community that promises they can do it all! This can be a red flag.
Some examples of when a community may determine that they are no longer able to provide the best care might include situations involving a resident experiencing frequent falling, mental health issues, behavioral challenges, insulin dependent diabetes or even sliding scale diabetes, or needing the assistance of a two-person transfer, or if a resident is resisting care.
Knowing this is important. Many communities will say that they can provide care until your parent passes away. This might be true for some residents but there may come a time when care needs increase beyond the capacities of that community. You want to know ahead of time what those trigger points might be.
We admire communities that are honest about what they can and can’t do. Some of our favorite communities are ones that are very clear about their boundaries and capacities. Just because your parent might need to move one day, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consider that community if it is the best fit for them right now.
Tip 10: Trust Your Gut. Intuition is more important than you realize. When you tour, pay attention to how you feel as you:
- Approach and enter the building
- Register your first impressions – are you welcomed warmly, is the space inviting?
- Observe staff interacting with one another and with residents
- Interact with staff and with residents
- Tour the community: is it a little too quiet or lacking activity, engagement?
After your tour and once in the car, quickly jot down your initial impressions for reference. Trust your gut. How does the community make you feel?
We like communities that feel warm, inviting, and have lots of energy. Our favorite communities have a vibrant main area. Are there visitors around? You should feel welcome and at home because you will want your parent /s in a community that you also enjoy spending time in.
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