Assisted Living with Purpose
Every week, I receive emails from family caregivers asking me about what to look for in an Assisted Living facility for a loved one. Although this is a very individual decision, there are a number of "must" factors I believe should be understood before making any final decision. The hope is for your loved one to thrive in their new home!
This past Saturday, I visited my mom, Vivian, who lives in a beautiful Assisted Living Senior Center. During our conversation, she was telling me how much she missed the resident activities of the past. She was missing activities that made her feel more alive and engaged with what is happening in the world, experiencing the belief that she still had the capacity to grow as a person.
Thinking about my discussion, I remember I had addressed this topic a while back in a blog titled Assisted Living or Assisted Existing. I decided to revisit this blog, and adjust it to reflect the additional experience I gained about the Assisted Living industry during this time.
Below, is what I consider a solid check list to put some operational meat on the bones for the assisted living facility you are visiting.
Review staff-to-patient ratios
Inquire about senior staff backgrounds, especially industry experience
Inquire about attendant staffing hiring criteria
Inquire about staffing turnover, including level over the last two years
Review on-premise medical resources, including physician and nursing medical specialization
Inquire about local hospital affiliations and acute care capabilities
Compare your loved one’s health needs with facility’s resources
Review complete physical facility including kitchen, activities room, social areas, health center and resident rooms
Ask to look at the last 6 months of resident planned activities
Find out if the facility has step-up care in the event a loved one's care needs change
Discuss the level of infirmity that disqualifies residency
Review past month's meal menus, and try the food
Proximity of facility to family members
Inquire about the financial condition of the business (please remember it is a business)
Ask if the assisted living facility is a stand-alone business, family business, publicly traded corporation and does the company have outside investors. If facility does have outside investors, who are they and what percentage of the business is owned by outside investors.
Determine if there are multiple locations. If so, what is the oversight process from HQ, and what is senior management's top five performance evaluation criteria
Review detailed costs by line item, and inquire about possibility of insurance acceptance
If you use these type questions and direction, it will serve as a good foundation to help determine if an assisted living facility has the resources and support to manage your loved one's safety and basic health care needs. And let's not forget, our loved one is going to be living not visiting wherever your loved one finally selects as their home!
Now, I want to revisit my conversation with my mom, Vivian. She no longer felt the resident activities were stretching her to grow. Yes mom, but you are safe with good medical oversight.
A while back, a wonderful professor of social psychology from the University of Indiana, Dr. Sara Konrath, worked on a project with Caring Today. Dr. Konrath addressed issues regarding empathy and family caregivers, and raised a point about working to understand the “dreams” of the loved one in your care.
I shamefully admit, at this point, I had forgotten to think about my mom’s dreams because I focused on her immediate physical health needs. Sound familiar? I know for a fact most family caregivers equate a good assisted living experience with safety and medical care, and anything else is a plus. Perhaps we need a more expansive view, because if there is anything scientifically true about the mind:body connection, it is our thoughts that have a significant influence on our physical and emotional health and well-being. If an individual is not fulfilled and unhappy, their negative mindset can definitely contribute to diminished overall quality-of-health, regardless of a facility's ability to deliver safety and medical care benefits.
Great Victor, now that you put this out what is an effective way to proceed? Fair question, and to help answer it below are a few thoughts to consider:
First and foremost, where it makes sense, make certain the family caregiver(s) and their loved one have a conversation of what they are looking for in this type of move. What kind of environment would support your loved one to feel happy?
Go back to the resident activity list, and speak with the Managing Director and Social Manager. Dig deeper into the activities. For instance, are activities more intended to pass the time of day, or do they stimulate and challenge residents thinking and cognitive abilities? Does the facility use third-party resources to introduce topics that expand its activities offering? For instance, does the facility work with local schools. The science is incredibly positive regarding mutual benefits through this type of activity. Bottom line, is the social program creative and expansive versus rudimentary?
Search for a facility whose philosophy helps its residents experience life purpose. Look for a staff with the mindset that can facilitate this. You do not want a loved one to just exist. You want them to have an opportunity to thrive.
Atrophy of soul is the worst type of deterioration. Without a healthy spirit, little else matters. If we pay attention to this, we can really help a loved one have a rebirth rather than a mere existence. Does this take a bit of extra effort for family caregivers and assisted living administrators? Of course! But our senior citizens have contributed a great deal to us and deserve this opportunity, if they desire it.
Dreams are wonderful, they give us something to point towards and deliver a greater sense of purpose. Ensuring a loved one's safety and care is terrific, but encouraging their emotional growth and joy, at any age, is outstanding! Ask Vivian, who is 95 and still looking forward!
Help yourself. Help others.
