Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Other Side of Assisted Living

My mom moved into an assisted living community about a year ago. It has been quite an eye opening experience. I have worked at an assisted living association for 12 years . . . or, since assisted living moved onto the national scene. I have learned many things being on the consumer side. I now spend a large part of my day helping educate other people who are moving their parents or loved ones into assisted living.

There are many things to consider before moving into an assisted living community. The hardest point to remember is your parents may or . . . may not want to move into an assisted living community. They may want to stay home as long as they possibly can … or move in with you. Assisted living is typically needs driven, but don’t wait for the last minute to select a place your loved one could live at for a sustained period of time.

Go and visit different communities before assisted living becomes a need. Heck, most of the communities offer a free lunch and where else can you receive a free lunch?

Make sure that you talk to the residents and staff who work or live there. Trust me, they will tell you anything you need to know to help you make an informed decision.


Karen Barno
President
Arizona ALFA