5 Essential Questions to Ask an Assisted Living Community

If your parent or loved one is reaching a point in which living independently is no longer the best option, it may be time to consider an assisted living community. A community setting that specializes in senior care can provide the necessary support mom or dad needs, while also keeping them safe and healthy. Not to mention, an assisted living community like UMC at Collingswood provides residents with many opportunities to socialize! 

It can be overwhelming to decide on the right community for your senior family member. You want to make sure they’re in the best hands possible, and feel confident with the final decision. Once you narrow down senior living communities to tour nearby, we recommend asking each community the critical questions below. 

• Question 1: What is your background in senior care? How long have you been caring for seniors?
  Perhaps the most important question is what is the community’s background in senior care? How long have they been doing it and why do they do it? When entrusting your loved one’s care to someone else, you want to make sure that community has their best interest in mind. United Methodist Communities, for example, has continued to grow and innovate to meet the needs of older adults for 113 years.
  
  Each of the full-service UMC campuses has been designed as a continuum to allow residents to access multiple care levels under one roof.  And throughout the years, our philosophy has essentially stayed the same: to provide all seniors with the most abundant lifestyle. 
• Question 2: Are staff members, including medical professionals, onsite 24/7?
  Assisted living residents should be relieved of day-to-day responsibilities like traveling to and from doctors’ appointments, remembering to take prescriptions, cooking meals, and cleaning. Staff members  assist residents with daily tasks of living at all times of the day. Wellness providers should also be on site 24/7 in case of a medical emergency. Here at UMC, our highly-qualified team of associates are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide care that is tailored to the wants and needs of each resident. 
• Question 3: Do staff members have experience and qualified training in caring for residents with dementia?
  Even if your loved one does not currently have dementia, this is still an important question to address. It would be very stressful to move into an assisted living building and then find out a couple years later you have to move again, as your current community does not offer memory care services. UMC’s memory care program called Tapestries® focuses on the cognitive strengths of each resident by adapting to their natural routines. This process ensures their comfort and enriches their quality of life. Our associates also stay  up to date with the latest research-based practices in memory care.
• Question 4: Are there procedures in place to combat COVID-19 and preserve the health and safety of residents?
  Many people still feel uneasy about moving their parents into an assisted living community since the pandemic hit. In reality,  many senior living communities have extensive experience in infection control. Along with other strategies, they implemented efficient health and safety procedures early on to minimize COVID-19’s impact. The right community should be able to provide you with extensive information regarding their COVID-19 responses. For example, UMC has developed “UNITEDforSAFETY,” which is quickly becoming the industry standard for infection control and cleanliness.  
• Question 5: What are the costs associated with assisted living?
  Monthly assisted living costs vary  by  the community and the types of service your loved one needs. The base cost for an assisted living community depends on the selected floor plan, apartment size, and the care services and amenities selected. For example, seniors with dementia that require 24/7 health monitoring will cost more than a senior who only needs help with a few daily tasks, such as dressing and bathing. For more information on assisted living costs at UMC, please visit our website. 

Assisted Living at United Methodist Communities in Collingswood, NJ

Choosing the right assisted living community for your parent is a huge decision for your family. Ask as many questions as you need to until you are satisfied with the level of care, policies, and costs. Use the questions above to compare communities as you tour to help you reach a final choice successfully. 

At UMC at Collingswood, we’re committed to providing your loved one with a senior living experience that enhances all aspects of their wellbeing – mind, body and soul. If you’d like to see if we’re the right assisted living option in Camden County, New Jersey, for your loved one, please contact us today to schedule a personal tour. We’d love to hear from you.