7 Steps to Finding Senior Living

Finding the right senior living option for yourself or your loved one can be challenging. Does your loved one need assisted living, or will they be happiest in a care home or other option? What kind of senior living can you afford? To help answer these and other questions, consider these seven steps to help you find the right fit.

Our Caring Family Advisors can help you book tours and find assisted living within your budget. Reach them for free assistance at (800) 558-0653.

Senior living is not one-size-fits-all. Differences in lifestyle, health needs, and financial resources, among other factors, all play a role in determining the level of care for your loved one. In general, senior living options differ by the level of care offered.

• Independent Living: Seniors in good health can choose an independent living facility that provides various amenities. Residents who do not generally need daily care but may want the convenience of social opportunities, prepared meals, an on-site gym, and housekeeping help.
• Assisted Living: These facilities are ideal for seniors looking to live independently who may need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, or toileting. Assisted living facilities may have medical professionals on staff, but they don't generally offer daily skilled nursing services.
• Memory Care: Memory care is a living option specifically focused on those with later stages of Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Facilities are likely to have enhanced safety features and trained staff who are skilled at working with people who have dementia.
• Nursing Homes: For seniors who need intensive medical support, a nursing home may be the best option. They can be either a short-term solution following hospitalization or a longer-term living option for people who require medical attention throughout the day. 

Financial considerations play a crucial role in determining the best senior living space for your needs or those of your loved ones. Luxury communities may offer a high level of support and service, and perks like in-house spas and tennis or golf courses. Other facilities may have fewer amenities and personalized care, but are available at a much lower price point. 

Your location may also affect what you pay. Some states feature lower average senior living costs than others, with Louisiana offering the cheapest senior living at home. For many senior adults, paying for senior living is a matter of combining available resources, which could include some of the following:

• Veterans' Benefits
• Long-term care insurance
• Social Security
• Pensions, annuities, and other retirement income
• Real estate assets that can be sold or leveraged
• Other assets that can be sold or leveraged
• Life insurance
• Family contributions
• Medicare 
• Medicaid
• Government aid

Once you've determined that senior living is the right choice for you or your loved ones, it can be helpful to draw up a list of residences and facilities in your area. Although making a comprehensive list can be a good first step, you may want to limit your choices by considering factors like:

• Price
• Location
• Available amenities
• Level of care
• Level of customer reviews

While you can find great information about senior living communities online, there's no substitute for visiting in person.

It's important to see the environment first-hand. You'll experience the atmosphere, enjoy the amenities, taste the food, meet the staff and residents, and visualize what it will be like to live there. If you're unable to visit a community in person, set up a live virtual tour where you can still see the community in real-time and ask questions to community staff.

There are several key questions to ask when touring an assisted living facility. Although many questions may occur to you while on the visit, it can be helpful to write up a list of what you want to know beforehand, so you don't forget anything important.

To help you create your own list, Caring created 10 Questions to Ask Memory Care Facilities. These questions may also apply to assisted living facilities and other residential communities. What is the staff-to-resident ratio? And what is a typical day like for a resident? You're also likely to have questions about additional costs for services.

If you visit more than one facility, it may help to create a spreadsheet with the answers you receive. Use your notes to compare each living option without having to remember details from the visit later on.

Finally, after touring several communities, you can make a decision. Do you like the amenities and services of one place over another? Think about whether you or your loved one may need frequent doctor's visits. If so, choose a community with transportation assistance. Does the community have robust social options and meals?

There are multiple options for senior living in the U.S., and finding the right eldercare option for your loved one or yourself can be challenging. Assisted living statistics reveal that more than one million people in the U.S. live in these types of communities, with many more in independent living, memory care, or nursing homes. Visit potential living options to assess, ask questions, and gain first-hand knowledge of aspects like staff responsiveness, amenities, and the quality of meals.