The first thing to look at when choosing a home for mom is the types of care available.
Once the only choice was a nursing home.
Now there are other options that may be better.
Types of Care: At the top of the list is assisted living.
This allows an elder to have a lot of freedom while still getting needed help in areas like cooking and cleaning.
They are expensive.
Second is board and care.
There is less freedom but a better staff to client ratio.
If mom needs a lot of care but would prefer a home environment this is a good choice.
Price wise it's about mid range.
Third is a nursing home.
These provide more skilled care than either of the others but they also have little in the way of freedom of movement.
It is geared mostly to seniors who need more medical attention than the others can provide.
Staff to Client Ratio: This is important for those who are fall risks, have dementia or have ongoing medical needs.
In this area a 3 client to 1 caregiver ratio is ideal but may not be available.
The closer you can get to that the better.
Amenities: Of the three, assisted living has the most.
Our elder's residence has a heated lap pool, live entertainment, a movie theater and weekly outings.
While it is somewhat institutionalized, the food is high quality.
Families are often welcome day and night with no set visiting hours.
Her facility also has a beauty salon and a gym.
Board and Care has fewer amenities.
These are in residences rather than a facility.
Most have a nice patio and a garden but amenities are not available.
Some have a hair stylist and/or someone who does nails come in once a month.
Surprisingly, nursing homes have more amenities than board and care.
The one I worked in had a salon and at least once a week a barber and a hair stylist came to help the residents.
Some have rehab facilities and may have a pool or gym equipment.
Visiting Hours: Both board and care and nursing homes have set visiting hours.
The staff can't handle visitors during the times when the residents are getting up for the day, eating or getting ready for bed.
It's also rather embarrassing if mom is in a ward.
She's not going to like having strangers watch her get dressed and undressed.
Hospice: To me this is one of the biggest deciding factors of all.
If the care facility does not offer hospice they don't go on my list.
Hospice provides so much help both for mom and the rest of the family that they are key.
Some don't or won't offer this service because hospice wants the family to be involved and present for mom when her time comes.
It's awkward if that time is during the midday meal.
While you can move mom to another place it is impractical to uproot her at this point in time.
Once the only choice was a nursing home.
Now there are other options that may be better.
Types of Care: At the top of the list is assisted living.
This allows an elder to have a lot of freedom while still getting needed help in areas like cooking and cleaning.
They are expensive.
Second is board and care.
There is less freedom but a better staff to client ratio.
If mom needs a lot of care but would prefer a home environment this is a good choice.
Price wise it's about mid range.
Third is a nursing home.
These provide more skilled care than either of the others but they also have little in the way of freedom of movement.
It is geared mostly to seniors who need more medical attention than the others can provide.
Staff to Client Ratio: This is important for those who are fall risks, have dementia or have ongoing medical needs.
In this area a 3 client to 1 caregiver ratio is ideal but may not be available.
The closer you can get to that the better.
Amenities: Of the three, assisted living has the most.
Our elder's residence has a heated lap pool, live entertainment, a movie theater and weekly outings.
While it is somewhat institutionalized, the food is high quality.
Families are often welcome day and night with no set visiting hours.
Her facility also has a beauty salon and a gym.
Board and Care has fewer amenities.
These are in residences rather than a facility.
Most have a nice patio and a garden but amenities are not available.
Some have a hair stylist and/or someone who does nails come in once a month.
Surprisingly, nursing homes have more amenities than board and care.
The one I worked in had a salon and at least once a week a barber and a hair stylist came to help the residents.
Some have rehab facilities and may have a pool or gym equipment.
Visiting Hours: Both board and care and nursing homes have set visiting hours.
The staff can't handle visitors during the times when the residents are getting up for the day, eating or getting ready for bed.
It's also rather embarrassing if mom is in a ward.
She's not going to like having strangers watch her get dressed and undressed.
Hospice: To me this is one of the biggest deciding factors of all.
If the care facility does not offer hospice they don't go on my list.
Hospice provides so much help both for mom and the rest of the family that they are key.
Some don't or won't offer this service because hospice wants the family to be involved and present for mom when her time comes.
It's awkward if that time is during the midday meal.
While you can move mom to another place it is impractical to uproot her at this point in time.
Source...