Not all senior living homes are created equal. While some if not most look glossy and inviting from the outside, what really matters is the cleanliness and quality of care and living that the senior receives when they are inside. Senior living homes offer a good alternative to the traditional, hospital-like setting seen in larger communities. Senior living homes offer a smaller but more patient-centered care that results in a higher quality of living for the resident. Our Minnesota expert Scott Hemenway, from the Geneva Suites, shared his expertise with us. So if you are looking for a place for a loved one that is moving out of their current home soon, here are some tips to help you find a clean, quality senior living home.
Follow Your Nose
Always trust your nose. No matter how swank the furniture and the carpeting may be your nose will always tell you something that is just lurking beneath the surface. Ask yourself if the home looks fresh and clean. Do make it a point to look beyond the furnishings and into the corners, windows and baseboards. Inquire regarding the housekeeping schedule being provided in the resident’s personal space and in the entire house and the surrounding grounds. Do make sure to get full details on the kinds of maintenance provided and the response times. Also, do not forget to ask about laundry procedures. Do ask for specifics on what is available and the price.
The presence of odors in a property may mean a lack of cleanliness on the part of the maintenance staff or it may be just a temporary issue. If you discover smells only in a single concentrated section of your tour then this can indicate that the cause is a single recent occurrence. Odors that are present all throughout the facility may mean there is a bigger issue at hand. Always inquire to the manager what they think the cause is and what they are doing to address the issue.
Visit During an Activity
There is really little or no point to visit a senior living home when all the residents are asleep or away. It is a good idea to schedule your tour in lie with any community event. Ask permission from the home manager if it is ok to watch some activities or if you can participate as well. Ask yourself if the activities are well organized and attended. Look if the staff is also enjoying the activities too. Are the events piquing the interest of your loved one? Is their variety to the events and activities or are they simply repeating them over and over? Find out if there are also trips and excursions off facility. If the loved one adheres to a certain religious belief and tradition, does the facility have some religious services on offer as well for those that are interested.
Staff Attentiveness & Friendliness
When visiting a senior living home do take special care to note the attitude and friendliness of the staff. Make this a high priority on your list to do. It is important that you get to observe how staff members communicate with the residents. Do they know them by name? Or are they simply addressing everyone with a sir or ma’am? Find out if the listen or make eye contact. Inquire about the patient to staff ratio and find out actually how many are involved in the care of the residents. Get an introduction with the management team so you can have an idea of the objectives of the facility. It is vital that you can have peace of mind and confidence in the staff to care for your loved one when no one else is watching.
Security & Safety
In order to have peace of mind you need to evaluate the security and safety of the facility. Check if the bathrooms are accessible or if they have grab bars installed in easy to reach areas. Inquire how residents contact the staff in case there is an emergency. Ask about the current safety features present in the private area of the resident as well as throughout the house.
