Assisted Living Questions

1. What's an assisted living community fee and how much is it?

   Most assisted-living communities charge an application or community fee to new residents. This is a relatively new concept, but it's become the norm. The community fee is usually a onetime payment that covers the administrative cost of moving your dad into the community, the cost of refurbishing his room, and maintenance for the common areas...
   1 Expert Answer

2. What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home?

   An assisted living community provides communal living, often with planned activities, housekeeping and laundry, transportation, meals, exercise and wellness programs, opportunities to socialize with other residents, and assistance with activities of daily living...
   1 Expert Answer, 8 Community Answers

3. Can my mom try out an assisted-living home before she commits to it?

   Fortunately many assisted living facilities offer a temporary-stay option called a "respite" as a way for your mom to test the waters and see if she's comfortable in her new environment before getting in too deep financially. Under this scenario, your mother pays the usual monthly fee (for rent and services...
   1 Expert Answer

4. Should I take my 80-something parents with me to check out assisted living facilities for them or go alone?

   Both. Generally speaking, the best strategy is first to tour all the facilities you're interested in by yourself. Then, when you have two in mind that you think are the best, take your parents along to visit just those two. That way, you don't overwhelm them, which can easily happen if they're barraged with too many choices...
   1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

5. Can we get our father out of the Alzheimer's unit?

   One of your questions refers to your father wanting to leave an Alzheimer's unit in continuing care. The other parts of your questions have to do with the family conflicts about your mom, the distance between you and your parents, and the complex question of his rights versus the decision of the facility to put him in the Alzheimer's unit...
   1 Expert Answer, 9 Community Answers

6. How can I find good nursing homes for Alzheimer's patients?

   Word of mouth is perhaps the best way to find good nursing homes for Alzheimer’s patients. You can go to any state’s Web site and look under aging services. They will have contact information to help you. I would tour a facility, of course. Talk to staff, but most importantly observe. How do they try treat the people with Alzheimer’s...
   1 Community Answer

7. How do we handle moving day into an Alzheimer's facility?

   We are in the process of moving our mother/mother-in-law into a Alzheimer's facility. My husband is ademant he does not want to do this but can you guide us as to who should be involved. We are going to have lunch there and then just take her to her room. We aren't sure of the easiest way to do this...