Finding a suitable care facility for a senior parent or relative is an emotionally challenging endeavour and ranks amongst some of the toughest decisions you will ever have to make. Add to the challenge a terminal disease, physical deterioration and or cognitive degeneration such as dementia and the challenge increases tenfold. An appropriate facility where improvement of quality of life and promoting healthy living are the main focus areas, will go a long way in creating the kind of living space where your parent can start writing a new life chapter and at the same time, visiting them will become an uplifting experience. Many families buy into the glossy brochures and promises without truly getting to the heart of what constitutes a well-run facility. Selecting an unsuitable facility can be prevented by knowing what questions to ask and to be sensitive to possible pitfalls.
One of the reasons the Livewell Support Groups are so popular amongst families is that it provides useful information and creates a helpful support network to families. These groups have proved to be tremendously helpful resources, especially to families with a newly diagnosed parent or loved one. As a first step we encourage families, who are considering placing a family member in a dementia care facility, to visit our support groups. Dementia care facilities and senior living establishments need not be the cause of separation and fear but should be seen as opportunities to give back a substantial level of independence and freedom instead; ultimately we want to give our loved one the best possible access to love, care and compassion.
Choosing the correct facility takes time, expertise, information and knowledge. We’ve put together a list of questions to consider adding to your list when next interviewing a care facility.
- Does it feel like home or an institution?
- Do you see ongoing activities and are the residents occupied?
- Can you make their new apartment more homely by bringing some of their personal belongings?
- Are there other similar people that could befriend your mom/dad?
- Can your parents live at the facility together?
- Do they accommodate specific dietary needs?
- Will they keep you updated on your loved one’s progress, health and activities?
- How will they manage your parent’s deterioration if he/she becomes frailer?
- How many carers do they have on duty during the day and at night?
- What are the monthly charges and are there any additional / hidden costs?
- What type of training do the carers, staff and nurses undergo?
- Could my parent visit the facility beforehand to get a feel for it?
At Livewell we have very specific focus areas and we take comfort in providing a stimulating and caring environment. Our main objective in our facilities is to offer a personalised care offering. We achieve this by offering our cherished residents many stimulating and interesting activities, employing only the best staff, going on the emotional journey with you and, over time, becoming family.