NURSING
HOME SITE
- ADULT RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES SITE
Five
Easy Steps To Selecting A Retirement Home
By Ian Logan, New Horizons Tower
When
you are faced with the job of finding a retirement home for yourself
or a loved one, the question often asked is "Where do I begin?"
At the end of the day however the process can be done with forethought
and confidence that the best decision was made for everyone involved.
First
decide if a retirement home is really what you are looking for.
Retirement homes are for elderly persons in relatively good health
who have minimal care needs but cannot or do not want to be in their
own homes. They provide an opportunity to socialize while maintaining
privacy, dignity and independence. Residents can usually bring some
of their own furniture and a few homes even allow small pets. Meals,
weekly housekeeping and recreational programs are generally included
in the monthly cost, other services such as medication assistance,
personal bathing assistance and foot care can usually be provided
on a fee for service basis.
Set
Criteria
It is crucial as a first step that the family and/or potential resident
decide what's most important to them in looking for a facility.
Retirement and residential care homes vary in location, size, price,
accommodation, amenities, staff, programs and services. The mix
of staff and residents also contributes greatly to the "personality"
and service level of each place. While budget is always an important
factor, make sure that the environment is one in which you or your
family member would feel at home.
Decide
what is mandatory or most important to you and other things on which
you will be flexible. The Ontario Residential Care Association (ORCA)
and the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes & Services for
Seniors (OANHSS) both have great check- lists of amenities and facilities
that can help you decide what you really want from the great range
of choice available.
Identify
Facilities
The next step is to identify two or three facilities in your chosen
area that meet the criteria you established above. You can do this
in a number of ways:
If placement is urgent, due to illness or hospitalization, consult
your hospital Social Worker or Discharge Planner for assistance.
If placement is "down the road" and you have time, call
the retirement facilities and ask them to send you their information
packet including an activity calendar, newsletter and a menu.
Many people ask friends and families that have gone through the
same thing for referrals. However beware of this. Nobody else can
say which is the best place for someone else's loved one. Every
facility is different and every person's needs are unique. Add the
names to your list, but make sure you rate the facility according
to your own checklist of needs and wants.
Search out good web sites that can help such as ORCA's at www.orca-homes.com
or OANHSS' at www.oanhss.org
Tour Facilities
Get ready to tour the facilities you have chosen and go with a list
of questions. You should be able to meet with the administrative
staff that will answer all your questions. Keeping notes and checklists
of services and building amenities available will enable you to
compare facilities. If there is an area you would like to look at
that isn't on the tour, ask to see it anyway.
Gaining
a strong "feel" for each place will help you choose the
residence best suited to you or your family's needs and interests.
It's important to look beyond the physical structure and spend the
necessary time to ask questions, talk with people and generally
"sample the product". Remember that all retirement homes
are privately owned and operated and are not regulated or funded
by the province and so it is up to you to decide if the facility
meets your standards.
When
you are touring, pay attention to your gut feeling. Ask yourself:
Did you feel welcome?
How long did you have to wait to meet with someone?
Did the admission director find out your family member's wants and
needs?
Was the facility clean and well maintained, including the areas
that were off the "tour"?
Does the residence offer a continuum of care such as assisted living
services?
Did you see the kitchen? Is it clean?
Does the food taste good?
Were there any strong odours, does the home smell clean?
Is the temperature in the building comfortable?
Was the staff friendly?
Did they seem to generally care for the resident?
Did the staff seem to get along with each other?
Listen and observe. You can learn so much just by watching and paying
attention. When touring a facility ask any questions that come to
mind. There are no "stupid" questions.
Second
Tour of Preferred Homes
Then you will want to tour a second time in the evening or on the
weekend just to see if there is a drastic difference in the atmosphere
of the facility or the care being provided. It is important to tour
at least two facilities so you can see the difference in the building,
facilities and the staff. Some facilities offer "trial stays"
or respite care for a few days or a week and it is a good idea to
take advantage of these. It is a non-threatening way for a family
member to get a real feel for a home.
Compare
Findings to Criteria and Select a Home
Finally you need to put what you have learned on the table and select
a home. Remember to go back to your list of mandatory requirements
and make sure that these needs are met.
Once
a facility has been chosen it is important that you get to know
the people who are caring for your loved one. Let everyone know
how much you care and how committed you are to your loved one's
care. Keep your eyes open when you visit and eat there on occasion
to check that things are still up to par. Most importantly, stay
involved because you or your loved one must live with your decision.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian
Logan is Administrator at New Horizons Tower, a Retirement Residence
that offers the choice of independent or Assisted Living at Bloor
& Dufferin in Toronto. For more information about New Horizons
Tower visit www.newhorizonstower.com.
