2. Searching for Independent Living
• Searching for a new home for an elderly loved one
can be overwhelming
• If you are equipped with the right tools, your search
can be less trying
• The following items are the steps you should take to
find the best independent living facility for your
loved one
3. Step One: How Much Help Do You Need?
• Independent living facilities are geared towards those who:
– Are more autonomous
– May need simple help with activities of daily living
• Differ from skilled nursing care, which caters to people who
may have Alzheimer’s disease or need a higher level of care
• Discuss your loved one’s care needs with your family doctor
• If you know the type of care needed, facility staff won’t be
able to talk you into more costly and unnecessary services
4. Step Two: Include your elderly family member in
the process
• Value their opinion
• Transition may be difficult
• Understand their needs, values, and preferences
• Empower them to aid in decision-making
• Not all people are active later in life
• Find a community that values your loved one’s individual
preferences
5. Step Three: Decide what you can afford
• Independent living facilities range in price from state to state
and depending on the type of community
• Choose the best option based on what you can afford
• Facilities that cater to the affluent are not necessarily the best
6. Step Four: Tour the facility
• Take a tour after hours
– Marketing staff is gone
– Employees not expecting guests
• Dinner time on a Sunday allows you to watch how staff
interact with residents
• Talk to some of the residents
• Check the kitchen, rooms, and grounds to ensure they’re kept
up to standard
7. Step Five: Go for the “community” feel
• Your loved one should feel that they’re moving into a
welcoming new home, not an institution
• Transition is difficult
• May equate leaving their home to a loss of independence
• Many facilities employ staff with degrees who understand the
feelings your loved one may be going through
– Social workers
– Gerontologists
8. SeniorHomes.com
• Information in this presentation provided by
gerontologist Melissa Shulz
• SeniorHomes.com is a free resource for
seniors and families searching for housing and
care services
• Visit http://www.seniorhomes.com for more
information on senior housing
