As our loved ones age, they need specialized care and attention. Specialized care helps seniors live fulfilling lives free of fear, anxiety, and other worries accompanying old age. It may be difficult to admit when you cannot meet your loved one’s extra needs.

The first step in helping older adults who need extra help is knowing when to intervene without intruding on their independence and freedom.

Currently, 70% of Americans over 65 need assistance with daily living activities. Most seniors live in long-term or residential care communities, where they can choose to live in a private, semi-private, or communal environment, depending on the level of care they require.

You may look for a residential care facility near you to help your loved one decide which is more suitable for them.

In this article, we will examine every aspect of residential care to help you make a uniformed decision about your loved one’s care.

Understanding Residential Care Facilities

 

What is a Residential Care Facility?

A residential care facility is a safe environment for long-term care where seniors can access various support and assistance services. Residential care addresses residents’ emotional, social, and physical needs.

Most residents in residential care facilities require some form of assistance as they can not live independently due to medical conditions, disabilities, or age.

At residential care homes, caregivers and skilled professionals assist the seniors and ensure their safety, comfort, and well-being.

Your loved one will find a haven in a residential care facility, especially when they need assistance performing daily activities or have memory care issues.

Types of Residential Care Homes

When it comes to a residential care home for your loved one, you want a place that not only feels like home but is home. Currently, there are a variety of residential care centers designed to meet older adults‘ unique needs.

These facilities extend their care to offering specialized assistance like respite care, memory care, assisted living care, and other forms of long-term care. Each of these care facilities offers services addressing a specific need in the older population.

Understanding the differences between these facilities will help you make the right choice when searching for the right home for your loved one.

Assisted living homes

These senior care homes provide personalized care to their residents who need it.

Personalized care includes:

• Bathing
• Toileting
• Dressing
• Meal preparation
• Medication management
• Social activities
• Transportation services.

Skilled Nursing Homes

A skilled nursing home is a residential care center providing round-the-clock medical assistance to seniors with chronic medical conditions or disabilities.

These facilities also offer personalized care and medical aid. Nursing homes employ trained staff as they help seniors in:

• Administering medications
• Monitoring vital signs
• Easy access to healthcare professionals like doctors
• Physical, occupational, or speech therapy

Memory Care Facilities

Your loved one will need a memory care facility if they are living with any form of dementia, like Alzheimer’s. At a memory care facility, a senior will live in a safe environment where they will be under constant care and supervision. The care your loved one will receive at a memory care home is tailored to meet their unique cognitive impairments and needs.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

At these facilities, your loved one will receive different types of care, from independent living to skilled nursing care, depending on their need. This type of residential care is ideal when you think your loved one will eventually require additional or advanced care as their condition progresses.

Services Provided in Residential Care Facilities

Some of the essential services your loved one will access at residential care homes include:

• Medication management and assistance
• Medical care
• Memory care
• Personal care
• Transportation assistance
• Post-operative care
• Social activities
• Meal planning
• Recreational activities
• Round-the-clock support

Licensing and Regulations

When considering having your loved one move into a residential care center, it is essential to look into the licensing and regulation of these institutions.

Licensing and regulation ensure that a residential home provides high-quality services and a safe environment for its residents.

The government requires residential facilities to have licensing and regulations, establishing a framework for setting standards for their quality of services, staffing, and operation. These standards protect vulnerable seniors who rely on these homes for safety and well-being.

Additionally, the government has set oversight mechanisms to ensure residential care facilities comply with these regulations and licensing. These mechanisms ensure smooth coordination between regulatory bodies and residential care facilities.

Licensed residential care facilities offer seniors and their families the following benefits:

• Trust: Knowing that the place your loved one is moving into is licensed creates a sense of trust between the residents, staff, facility, and family. You will rest easy knowing your loved one is in a place that complies with the government’s requirements, is accountable, and offers transparency regarding the quality of care it provides.

• Peace of mind: You and your family will have peace of mind knowing that your loved one is receiving the type of care they require and that it meets the requirements set by the regulatory bodies.

Choosing the Right Residential Care Facility

Once you decide as a family to have your loved one move into a residential care facility, the next step is choosing the right one—a place that ticks all your boxes. This can be challenging as there are so many residential care facilities. However, you don’t have to worry; we have compiled a list to help you find the ideal fit for your loved one.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Facility

There are many factors to consider when moving your loved one into a residential care facility. The process can be overwhelming, especially if you do it while still caring for your loved one.

You should consider the following factors while selecting an ideal RCF for your loved one:

1. Location

The facility’s location is critical. You will need a place that is accessible. Easy accessibility ensures you and your family can visit your loved one as often as you want to.

While choosing the location, check if you can easily access it via public transport and if it is near amenities such as parks, shops, salons, and banks.

2. Home-like Environment

When considering a facility, you want a place with a homely ambiance. This will help your loved one adapt to their new environment quickly

 

You don’t want a place that looks and feels like a hospital but a place that is more of a home. Although a residential home may have procedures that require a sterile environment, the place should have a home ambiance that doesn’t scream a medical setup.

3. Safety and Security

You want your loved one in a place where they are safe and secure while retaining their independence and freedom. If a senior has any form of dementia, they may tend to wander, and having them in a place where wandering is contained will help immensely.

 

Ask your tour guide about their safety measures and protocols and how they ensure residents’ safety and security while remaining independent.

You may find a residential care facility with all the amenities and services, but it doesn’t feel like home. Ensure the facility meets all your requirements and its warm and welcoming ambiance, somewhere your loved one will spend their golden years and call home.

4. Availability of Amenities

You may find several residential care homes that seem ideal to you and your loved one during your search. Looking for the available amenities, and how impact your loved one’s quality of life may help narrow them down. Look at the quality of their on-site amenities and whether residents are using them.

For instance, if one facility has a good movie theater and another has a spacious garden, consider one that addresses your loved one’s interests. Look for a facility that will help improve your loved one’s quality of life.

5. Costs

Check out the cost of every care facility you have narrowed down, then choose one within your budget. Ask for a price breakdown, as some may be due to services and amenities such as a cinema room, fine dining, and beauty salon. Find out whether the total cost includes these services and if someone can pay for exactly what they use.

The cost of senior care varies with the type of care your loved one requires. The national average senior care cost is about $54,000 annually. A senior may cover this cost by combining their savings, insurance, and assets.

When it comes to the cost of residential care, you will have to consider various scenarios, but the average cost of care is:

• In-home care: $30 hourly
• Assisted living homes: $4,800
• Nursing homes: $7,908 for a semi-private room.

Factors such as location, level of care needed, and amenities significantly affect the cost of care.

Tips for Choosing The Right Residential Care Facility

Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:

Start the conversation with your loved one and family early

When making a serious decision like having your loved one move into a residential care home, you must involve all the parties involved. In most cases, there will be an instance that will prompt you to start thinking about residential care; this could be a new diagnosis, a fall, or when your loved one starts exhibiting memory loss signs.

You must talk with your loved one and evaluate their stand on this type of care. This is very helpful to your loved one as it will show them that you are not taking control of their lives but that they have a say in what happens to them. At a time when their world is falling apart, having a sense of control, even if it’s in the place they will be calling home, will go a long way in helping them cope with their situation.

As for the other family members, you must be on the same page to ensure your loved one receives the care they need. Having a divided family will not help your loved one. But giving them the peace of mind that their loved one supports their decision will ease a load off their shoulders.

Learn about your loved one desires and needs

Before researching residential care homes, you should ask your loved one about the type of care they wish for in these facilities. Find out what signs you should look out for before having them transition into a residential care home. Discover their fears when seeking their opinion on a long-term care facility. This will help you address them in your search. You must look for a facility where your loved one will feel comfortable, which will be their new home.

Moving into a new environment will be emotionally challenging, and you need to show your loved one that you are willing to listen to and address their concerns.

Find out the type of support your loved one is looking for in a residential care home and look for one that addresses these needs. If your loved one has particular interests or hobbies, it will be of great help to look for a facility that offers these activities. For instance, if your loved one loves arts and crafts, look for a facility with these programs.

Research the Available local options

Once you’ve decided on the type of RCF for your loved one, the next step is to research the available options near you.

Sometimes, those facilities near your loved one’s home are not ideal, and you may need to broaden your search. For available options, you can also check Medicare’s compare tool, Eldercare locator, Long-term Care’s website, or carry out an online search like “assisted living homes near me.

You can also request referrals from family, friends, social workers, and healthcare providers.

If you are considering relocating them to a different area, consider whether the location allows for easy visitation from family and friends. Despite your loved one’s medical condition, their social life is crucial to their well-being.

Call the facility

After making a list of the available local options, the next step is to reach out to them. The aim of reaching out is to gather more information and determine if the facility is ideal for your loved one.

Prepare a list of questions beforehand, as the answers will show if the facility suits your loved one. The following are some of the areas you can ask questions.

• Vacancy and move availability
• Social activities
• Diet and nutrition
• Availability of amenities
• Cost of services and amenities
• Visitation policies
• Emergency protocol
• Care needs changes
• Pets

Tour the facilities

After narrowing down your selection, it’s time to visit these facilities. You can schedule a visit, although visiting without notifying the facility beforehand is the best option. Here, you will meet residents and see if they have a good relationship with the caregivers.

You will also find out if the facility is well maintained and the residents utilize the available amenities.

During the tour, you can ask your guide if it’s okay to join the resident in the dining hall. Once here, check on their menu and the flexibility of making something for someone with dietary needs.

Evaluating Levels of Care and Services

When your loved one requires assistance carrying out daily living activities, most residential care homes will have to evaluate a senior before having them move in. This evaluation is known as the Level of Care Assessment (LOC).

An assessor will evaluate a senior’s needs, circumstances, and preferences to determine the level of care your loved one will need.

You need to understand the factors that the facility will look into. They include:

1. Cognitive Ability

A cognitive ability assessment is crucial, especially for seniors with cognitive or neurological medical conditions like dementia. During the evaluation, the healthcare provider will check your loved one’s judgment, memory, problem-solving ability, and orientation. These are some of the determining factors that indicate a person’s ability to make informed decisions and live independently.

After this assessment, your loved one may require specialized care and additional support, such as memory care or skilled nursing services.

Physical Health

When it comes to LOC assessment, your loved one’s physical health plays a crucial role in determining the level of care they will need. During this assessment, a healthcare provider will assess whether they have any acute illnesses, chronic health conditions, mobility limitations, or need assistance while carrying out activities of daily living (ADLs). You will need to present medical records if needed.

Additionally, the assessor will physically examine your loved one and observe their functional abilities before determining the level of care they will need.

Social Support

Your loved one’s social support will dramatically influence the level of care they require. A support network from family, friends, and the community ensures a senior has emotional support and people to help carry out ADLs.

Social support assessment aims to gauge the reliability and strength of a senior’s social support. This assessment helps determine whether your loved one can safely live independently or will require additional assistance.

Your loved one’s goals and preferences

The assessor will consider your loved one’s preferences while determining the level of care they will require. Some seniors may prefer independent living and can move into one until they need more support and assistance.

Quality of Life in Residential Care Facilities

The quality of life in a residential care facility depends on various factors. it’s crucial to understand the dimensions of quality of life (QOL) that your loved one needs. When your loved one moves into a residential care home, you must ensure the facility gives its residents the QOL they deserve. Here are specific questions you can ask to evaluate the quality of life:

• Does the facility have social activities that promote your loved one’s quality of life?
• How does the home prioritize your loved one’s dietary needs?
• How about easy access to healthcare and medical services
• What measures are in place to deal with emergency cases?
• Is the residential care home comfortable, has a homely environment, and safe?
• Is the staff well-trained to handle the residents’ needs?
• Does the facility have amenities catering to its residents’ interests and preferences?
• What about their visitation procedures? Do they allow family and friends to visit and spend quality time with their loved ones?

Promoting Autonomy and Independence

Autonomy and independence are vital to a person’s physical and mental well-being.

When your loved one knows they have control over what happens in their lives and that their choices matter, they will experience a greater sense of satisfaction, self-esteem, and purpose.

Losing autonomy and independence can lead to depression and create a sense of helplessness. Your loved one needs to retain a sense of their autonomy, especially if they are facing mobility challenges, cognitive impairments, or chronic health issues. It doesn’t matter whether they struggle to perform their ADLs.

 

The RCF must promote residents’ autonomy and independence to boost their confidence and remove whatever frustration they may have.

Resident Engagement and Socialization

Socialization and resident interactions play a crucial role in a senior’s well-being. When seniors are socially active, they can fight isolation, cognitive decline, and loneliness. They can also form meaningful relationships to help them enjoy their golden years.

 

Research shows that socialization helps increase cognition. Engaging in exciting conversations helps a person’s brain function well and improves recall.

RCFs must have activities and programs that foster socialization, and help residents improve their QOL.

Addressing Cognitive Impairments

Residential care homes provide a safe, secure, and caring environment, ideal for residents with cognitive issues. Here, your loved one will have someone watching over and providing round-the-clock care while they retain their independence. RCFs must have safety protocols such as alarm systems, gated entrances, and emergency exits.

End-of-Life Care and Hospice Services

Most residential care centers provide end-of-life care and hospice services. This makes it easy for your loved one to access these services when they need them.

When touring the facility before your loved one moves in, you should ask about their services and how a resident moves from one type of care to the next. Ensure your loved one needs these services before taking them.

Continuity of care is critical, so your loved one doesn’t have to transition to another facility to receive a higher level of care. At Amy’s Eden Senior Care, our care plan can be adjusted to meet your loved one’s current needs.

Financial Planning for Residential Care

Senior care is expensive, and you must plan accordingly once you decide to have your loved one move into a residential care home. Although the federal and state governments help cover some of the costs, your loved one might pay out of pocket for their care.

 

Depending on whether your loved one is eligible, government support programs such as Medicare and Medicaid can help immensely.

Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance

When covering the cost of senior care, having long-term care insurance (LTCI) is one way to go about it. LTCI may cover most services offered in a residential care facility

LTCIs must be purchased before your loved one needs it. It’s essential to understand the coverage’s parameters and possible downsides. LTCI policies cover specific things for a certain period and money.

If your loved one has an LCTI, review the policy and find out what it covers.

Third-Party Payer

Your loved one may have another entity covering their insurance as a third-party payer, which will be helpful when paying for senior care. This type of insurance doesn’t cover the cost of independent living but will cover specific services in an assisted living home, nursing home, memory care, and respite care.

A third-party payer can be a Health Maintenance Organization(HMO), Federal government or Prefered Provider Organization (PPO) which requires your loved one to meet specific parameters before it can kick in and cover senior care. It will only cover seniors who need help with at least two ADLs. Most of the time, it covers the cost of:

• Mobility assistance
• Bathing
• Grooming
• Dressing
• Incontinence care

Life Insurance

If your loved one has life insurance, they can convert their policy into a pre-funded account. Benefits of this type of insurance is the fact that there is no:

• Limitations to care services
• Waiting periods
• Premium fees or payments
• Cost to apply for coverage

Medicare Coverage

Medicare does not cover the cost of senior care at residential care centers. While it helps cover some of the services at a residential care facility, it does not cover the cost of living there.

Medicare will only cover short-term medical stays in residential care centers such as skilled nursing care after surgery or an injury. Additionally, you must check for facilities that accept Medicare before your loved one can move in.

Medicaid Coverage

If you are looking at Medicaid to cover the cost of your loved one’s care, you will need to understand that it offers multiple programs for senior care. Depending on the type of care that your loved one requires.

Medicaid will cover the following:

Skilled Nursing Care

Your loved one can access Medicaid funding for the total cost of their nursing home services through the Medicaid regular program. The funding will cover

• Roms and accommodation
• Personal care
• Medication management
• Meals

Eligibility for this funding requires a senior to need nursing home-level care and have a limited income.

Assisted Living Homes

Currently, Medicaid pays between 95% and 98% of the total cost of care in an assisted living facility. However, you should note that Medicaid doesn’t cover the cost of room and accommodation in an assisted living community.

Rooms and accommodation usually take a third to two-thirds of the cost of an assisted living home. Your loved one can access Medicaid funding through the Medicaid program known as a Waiver.

Waivers vary between states and the fact that your loved one qualifies medically and financially does not guarantee that they can participate in these programs. Though most Medicaid programs have a long waiting list, some do not. Check out your state’s specific assisted living facility waivers and determine if your loved one is eligible.

Planning for Future Care Needs

Planning for future senior care needs will give you ample time to learn about the services available in residential care communities near you and their cost before actually needing them.

Advantages of planning as a family include:

• Your elderly loved one can make this decision when they are of sound mind
• It ensures you and other caregivers know of your loved one’s wishes on the type of care they want to have
• Have enough time to explore various care options
• Plan on how to pay for long-term care before you need it

Seeking the Best Care Home For My Loved One Near Me

Although residential care is the best option for most seniors, the decision to move into one facility is one that you should take your time. Before committing to one facility, you must discuss this with your loved one and the family. You want your loved one to be comfortable, safe, secure, and well-taken care of.

Searching for the proper residential care home may be an uphill task, as you want a place that feels just like home. This calls you to do your due diligence, know your loved one’s wishes, preferences, and desires, and with this search for a home that will be ideal for them.

If you looking for a residential assisted living home for your loved one, contact us today to learn more about our services. We offer personal care, memory care, chronic condition management, and more in our upscale assisted living homes.

Let us partner with you and ensure your loved one enjoys their golden years in comfort and happiness.