Niagara Falls has several great assisted living communities and facilities because of its beauty, superb amenities and great weather. However, finding the most suitable community takes time and effort. In this article from Cavendish Manor Retirement Residence, I will describe some tips for choosing the best assisted living community in Niagara Falls.
Assisted living facilities
Not all assisted living communities are the same and function differently. Sure, they serve the same general population and support the same general goals, but they vary in size, culture, expertise, cost, perks, and even food offerings. Calling them all the same in the Niagara Falls area is like calling all the colleges in a country the same.
“Just as every resident is unique, so is every assisted living community,” said LaShawn Bethea, executive director of the National Center for Assisted Living, representing about 4,000 assisted living communities in America.
Ensuring the assisted living community can meet your clinical needs, community standards, and budget is essential.
Before searching for an assisted living community, family members should consult with their loved ones to gain insight into their personal preferences and finances. It helps guide loved ones in determining the most critical factors when choosing an assisted living community.
Assisted Living Considerations
In the first step to choosing an assisted living community, compare the facilities it offers you with your needs and budget. So pay attention to the following.
Location
The importance of location depends on each potential resident and their preference.
Many prefer to live in a community close to their old home to remain close to friends and familiar surroundings. Sometimes family members want their loved one to move to an assisted living community near them so they can visit them more easily.
But some residents and families may want an assisted living community closer to other health care providers, such as a hospital or doctor’s office, to prepare for when additional health care is needed.
Some may prefer beautiful and well-mannered locals with other peers to have better social relations.
You should be able to answer these questions to determine your preference for an assisted living community location. Do you want to be in a large, suburban environment or a city? Because you will get different things. Do you want an urban lifestyle? Or do you want to create a small garden in the backyard? Do you want to be able to go outside, see the grass, and be in a big yard?
The comfort and access to various cultural activities, city bustle, and diversity are excellent in an urban environment. But the downside is: there is often little green space.
Smaller rooms are usually found in urban residences, where space is often at a premium. But the Niagara Falls area is where all the necessary facilities, such as casinos, shopping malls, and hospitals, are near you, while you can also enjoy solitude and beauty.
Size
The average number of beds in an assisted living facility is 33. Facilities vary widely, from small facilities with four to 10 beds to extensive facilities with over 100 beds. So, pay attention to the number of residents when choosing.
The staff-to-resident ratio is also essential. Group homes, also known as senior family homes or nursing homes, are a type of new assisted living facility that generally has fewer residents and one elderly caregiver for every five or six residents.
The optimal caregiver-to-resident ratio allows one to get to know each resident and provide personalized care in an excellent relationship. These tiny group homes are usually located in good neighbourhoods.
Size can also affect the types of services offered. For example, extensive facilities may be more likely to offer amenities such as movie theatres, swimming pools, or specialized units for memory care.
Services
Residents in assisted living are often non-disabled and only need assistance with a few daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, and walking. But nursing home residents need skilled nursing care 24/7.
An assisted living community can provide dining, housekeeping, exercise and wellness programs, and medication management support. In addition, you can also receive some services tailored to specific health needs.
These special services may include but are not limited to, care for Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, such as memory care units, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and special medical conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or different needs.
Ask the assisted living community if they offer specialized care if your loved one has unique conditions because a community that provides Alzheimer’s care services or other dementia programs may not be able to help adults with dementia.
Most of these centers provide health care services such as a pharmacy or pharmacist, nutrition support, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, or are close to organizations that provide these services. Some assisted living communities offer hospice and skilled nursing, while more offer mental health counselling or social work services.
Some communities also invest in programs that increase the quality of life. Art therapy and pet therapy, computer labs, piano rooms, and social outings are among the amenities that will enhance your lifestyle. So look for them. However, primary care can become an essential service.
The needs of residents of assisted living communities change over time, so some communities automatically offer them additional assistance with activities of daily living. Considering the changing needs of the elderly, it is vital to ensure in advance whether the service provider will change automatically or not.
It is a significant point and should be clearly stated in writing. For example, a person may not need help eating initially but may want a caregiver to feed him over time.
In some cases, families may need outside caregivers to provide additional assistance, such as helping the resident with bathing, emptying a drainage bag, or ensuring adequate hydration.
Infection control and prevention
Outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as influenza or respiratory syncytial virus, remain an ongoing challenge for any assisted living community. While familiar with the specific limitations of a pandemic, how to limit exposure and the spread of infectious diseases are important factors to consider.
Because vaccines and treatments are primarily available now, assisted living options continue to abound. But it is part of the new service that all environments and aspects of society must adapt to. Elderly caregivers must be vigilant and adhere to best infection control practices.
Transition to the next level of care
The elderly have challenges and fears transitioning from complete independence to a residence with assisted living. So it is natural to be careful about care services. However, it is worth doing so. Suppose the assisted living facility is part of a larger community that offers a range of facilities, including nursing homes. In that case, if and when assisted living is no longer sufficient, you can be sure that as the individual’s needs change, so will the services and, thus, the needs. You do not have to transfer the elderly to a new center.
Some assisted living facilities may have additional licenses. These improved residences are additionally certified to allow residents to age in place. These assisted living communities can accommodate residents who need physical assistance from another person to walk or climb stairs, for example, or those who depend on medical equipment and require frequent aid.
Finally, the facility needs to be licensed to provide higher care. In that case, they help families find the appropriate setting, whether a nursing home or a memory care provider.
Cavendish Manor Retirement Residence is one of the top providers of assisted living services in the Niagara Falls area, providing its residents with a friendly and welcoming environment. By contacting the center and planning a tour of this nursing home, you can see its facilities and beauty up close.
