There are a lot of things to think about and consider as you search for the right senior living community for your aging loved one. Avoid these five common mistakes as you narrow down your options.

Mistake #1: Not taking future needs into consideration.

As you search for long-term care, create a list of potential facilities in your area that match your loved one’s needs, values, and interests. Be realistic about your loved one’s future needs and look for a community that offers a wide spectrum of care services, such as assisted living, memory care, and respite care. In a continuing-care facility, residents can remain in the same community as their care needs change over time.

Mistake #2: Skipping community tours.

The best way to get a feel for a community is to visit it in-person. While touring, pay attention to the facility’s cleanliness and general upkeep. Try a meal in the community’s dining room, check out the living arrangements, and talk to staff and current residents. All these factors can make your decision easier and help your loved one feel more comfortable in the process.

Mistake #3: Waiting too long to search for long-term care.

If you put off the search for long-term care until your older parent has a serious illness or crisis, you may be forced to choose a community based on what is available, not what your loved one desires. You can avoid this by starting your search early and getting on waiting lists for your favorite communities. When the time comes, you can make the transition to memory care as smooth as possible for you and your loved one.

Mistake #4: Not involving your loved one.

Although you don’t need to include your senior loved one in every aspect of the search process, it’s important that you don’t leave them out of the conversation entirely. Talk to them about their preferences for long-term care, what activities are important to them, and the type of community they envision themselves living in. Allow them to join you on community tours so that they can as questions, interact with current residents, get a sense for the community culture and feel confident in their ultimate decision.

Don’t Do It Alone—Senior Living Experts Can Help

If you live in the Chicagoland area, there are local advisors available to help you every step of the way. At Senior Living Experts, we offer free services to families looking for the right long-term care community for their loved one. Our process includes:

Discovery

We gather information necessary for proper placement, including your needs, location, and budge

Recommendations

We get to know your needs and preferences before using our deep knowledge of senior communities and industry connections to narrow down your options.

Tours

Your advisor will accompany you on tours so your search can be as thorough as possible.

Follow-ups

Following your loved one’s move, we will continuously check in to make sure everything is going well.

Connect with an advisor today to learn more about our services.