Your Family’s Guide to Choosing the Right Facility for Your Loved Ones!

First Impression is Not Always Right
Make an initial appointment, observe the environment, is it clean, tidy and no foul odor? Offensive odor may indicate temporary problem due to recent accident but a foul odor throughout the facility may indicate neglect and serious problems. Do the residents look happy? Remember: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Plan to drop by the second time around unannounced before making a decision.

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Judge not a Book by It’s Cover
Although a home or facility should be neat, clean, organized and decorated, there are several beautiful, large facilities that have little or no experience with patient care. Do not be fooled by large, beautiful, picture-perfect and expensive homes. After all, it’s the quality of care that matters not the décor or size of the home or facility.

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Be Observant
Observe the overall ambience of the facility. How do the residents look like? Do the residents look clean, properly dressed and well-groomed? Do they look happy and well-cared for? Or do they look neglected and withdrawn? If the resident of the facility you are planning to place your senior does not care for the grooming of the residents, chances are they would not be able to provide quality of care to your loved one. Observe how the staff interacts with the resident. Does staff treat the residents with respect and dignity? Or do they treat them like children? Remember, a caring, kind and compassionate staff is essential in quality of life of the resident in the facility.

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Healthy Food is Essential to Healthy Body
Watch the quality of food being served. Does the facility prepare fresh foods or do they serve canned goods or processed foods? Remember canned goods and processed foods are loaded with sodium and preservatives. Do they serve fresh fruits and vegetables? Do they serve snacks between meals? Do they serve fruit juices instead of carbonated beverages loaded with sugar? Do the facility able to serve special diets such as vegetarian or kosher menu? Prescribed diet by physician such as diabetic and low sodium, low cholesterol, low-fat diet? Are the meals being served have different varieties and have balanced diet content (food groups guide in pyramid)? Are the foods being prepared, cook properly and look appetizing? Healthy foods are usually those that have vibrant colors. A food that does not look good chances are they don’t taste good. Ask the administrator of the facility if it is alright to taste the food being served. Food is one of the very many few pleasures our senior can enjoy and most senior’s appetite decline during aging process. Remember a healthy, well prepared, well-served and good quality foods are essential to your senior’s health care needs.

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Plan Ahead
When choosing a facility for your loved, be sure to choose one that can meet the needs of your senior when his/her level of care increases. It is upsetting for the senior to move from one place to another when they are adjusted and accustomed to the staff and other residents. It is better to place your senior in a facility that is able to care for residents that has advance ailments. Inquire if the home or facility has license for non-ambulatory status. Make sure the facility has a “dementia program” and “hospice waiver.” When your loved ones condition reach to that point, the present facility should be able to accommodate your senior and avoid needless transfer to another home or facility.

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Busy Hands, Busy Minds
Does the facility provide planned activities and group exercise programs? Or do they let the resident stay in bed all day or rather seat in front of television all the time? Remember: group activities and exercises are vital importance in your senior care needs. It is essential to your senior’s physical, psychosocial, and emotional needs. Inquire about variety of activities program for your senior or adults in the facility. If your senior or adult has limitation, does the facility able to provide individualize and personalize activities? Is there enough staff to assist residents with activities and exercise? If your senior or adult has limitation, is the staff able to provide passive and assistive range of motion?

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Watch for Hidden Charges
Inquire the facility about charges for basic care and optional services. Before signing a contract agreement, be sure to read the contents carefully. What’s the facility refund policy in the event the senior is hospitalized or moved? Does the facility charge extras on special foods (supplements such ensure, diabetic foods, or incontinent supplies, etc.). Most facilities basic care rates are for room and board only. Extra care such as bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, and dispensing of medications may cost extra. Learn how much is being charge for optional services, such as dry cleaning, laundry, transportation to the doctor, etc. It is better to know the cost ahead of time than getting committed on something unforeseen.

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Ask for References
Ask the owner or administrator of the facility for references. The residents and their families are most likely the ones to be a good source of information. Talk to the residents in private when the administrator or the staff is not around. Find out how they like the place, the food being served, the care provided and the attitude of the staff towards their loved ones. Present residents and their families are the one who knows best about the quality of care provided.

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Do some Research
Contact the state licensing agency or local long-term ombudsman to find out about the facility’s license. Learn more about the facility recent inspection survey report. Ask some questions such as: Is there any citations? Are the citations minor, simple and even trivial or is there a citation for abuse, neglect, or poor patient care? The three latter deficiencies are of major concerns and would impose serious problems. Find out if the license is active, revoked or suspended.

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Choosing a right facility for your loved ones might be one of the most difficult, yet the most important decision you will ever have to make. But remember AAHIRS for Seniors and Adults are here willing to help you with the transition process. We have professional and experienced staff in the geriatric realm with Residential Care Facility Administrators’ certifications who understands your needs.

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GLOSSARY

Food Groups Guide in Pyramid – the food guide in pyramid is one way for people to understand how to eat healthy. It is a dietary guideline that shows how much food to eat, what to eat according to age, sex, height, weight, and level of physical activities. For more info visit: http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Non-ambulatory status – when a resident is unable to walk around without the assist of another person, assist of walker, quad cane or wheelchair. Bedridden resident is also considered non-ambulatory.

Dementia program – approved by the State Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing to accept residents that has dementia (a progressive brain dysfunction that leads to gradually increasing restriction in activities of daily living. This medical disorder cause cognitive impairments in elderly). Alzheimer’s Disease is the most well known type of dementia that causes severe intellectual and cognitive impairments. Staff are required to have specialized training and work experience to care for these seniors.

Hospice waiver – approved by the State Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing to accept residents that has terminal illness in a home setting or specialized hospice facilities.

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SENIORS AND LONELINESS:

Helpful Tips for Overcoming Isolation

(ARA) - For millions of seniors, loneliness can have a very serious effect on their physical and mental health; but there are many ways to overcome loneliness and improve their quality of life.

Emotional isolation is linked to elevated blood pressure in seniors, a 2006 University of Chicago study indicated. Lonely seniors have blood pressure readings up to 30 points higher than their socially connected peers, regardless of race, sex or other health factors, researchers found. Loneliness is also closely linked to depression, with more than 2 million of the nation's 64 million seniors suffering some form.

"Approximately 8.8 million seniors were living alone in America 17 years ago, according to the 1990 U.S. Census," says Scott Perry, president of Banker's Life and Casualty Company, a national insurance company that specializes in serving the senior market. "The 2000 Census showed that number had climbed to 9.7 million. Experts agree it's reasonable to expect the number of seniors living alone will continue to grow. Maintaining strong social networks can help seniors stay healthier longer, and enhance the overall quality of their lives as well."

Older Americans are more prone to experience the kind of life changes that place them at greater risk for loneliness, including:

*Death of their spouse, relatives and friends;

*Retirement

*Illness;

*Decreased physical mobility;

*Loss of the ability to drive; and

*Intentional reductions in their social networks to include only those who the senior feels close to.

Fortunately, there are many ways in which seniors, even those with significantly curtailed mobility, can prevent and combat loneliness. Finding the right mode of social interaction for you can improve your health as well as your enjoyment of life.

Proven loneliness-fighting strategies include:

*Volunteering -- Volunteers live longer, have higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease, according to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service. In particular, research shows that seniors age 65 and older who volunteer had significantly lower rates of depression than their non-volunteering peers.

"The life changes that come with age can easily make us feel isolated and less useful than we felt when we were working and raising our families," Perry notes. "For those who are physically able, volunteering is a great way to connect with new people and renew your sense of purpose inlife."

*Joining Social and Support Groups -- Social interaction with people who have similar interests, or face similar challenges, not only combats loneliness, but can be a way to build new friendships as well. If your community has a senior center (and most can provide transportation assistance), take advantage of its programs and facilities. Call your local recreation or senior services department to learn what's available in your area.

*Connecting to others on the Internet -- The number of seniors using the Internet more than doubled between 2000 and 2004. Seniors who face mobility challenges can find others with similar interests through a variety of resources and Web sites directed at seniors on the Internet.

Technology providers continue to develop products to make it easier for seniors to use the Internet, such as large-button keyboards and voice recognition software. Asking for help to get online can also be a great way to connect with tech-savvy grandchildren.

*Learning Something New -- Learning a new skill requires you to interact with a teacher and fellow students. Choose to learn a skill such as cooking or e-mailing, and the skill itself can help enhance your ability to interact socially with others. Local community colleges and city centers offer many courses appropriate for seniors.

*Maintaining Friendships -- Studies have found that friendships are often more important than family connections in fighting loneliness among seniors. Make a conscious effort to stay connected with friends by visiting with them in person or keeping in touch by phone, letter or e-mail.

For more information on senior topics, visit www.bankerslife.com and click "Senior Resources."

Courtesy of ARA content