WE ARE HERE TO HELP MAKE THE TRANSITION TO MOVE INTO A CARE FACILITY SMOOTH

To start you must first begin the process of searching  for an assisted living facility, can be an uncertain task  for many seniors and their families, it is often overwhelming. There are many unknown questions and answers between seniors and their families concerning what they should expect for the coming changes. Seniors are mostly concerned about how the transition process will affect them and whether their needs will be met in a new home. 

This is where Elderlink’s expertise will assist you. We are the oldest senior referral service in California,  we understand our client’s fears and concerns. We have been helping families walk through these questions and compassionately answer each one. We have the knowledge, experience, and understanding.   Our long-term staff understands how frustrating and difficult this process is for both the senior and their family.

With our assistance, guidance, knowledge, compassion and consideration, we make this entire process easy for families and the senior citizen.The decision and determination for many seniors are answered when they are requested to complete ‘Needs Assessment’.  Irrespective of whether they are moving to an assisted living, board and care, a retirement community, or a skilled nursing home, is to take the care needs into consideration to make it a good fit.  We understand how difficult this process is for the family and especially the senior.

Before any referrals are given, we will take a verbal assessment of all diagnosis and care needs first, as well as the desired location and budget to create a match that will meet all the needs of the senior and their family. Additionally, the State of California will require a Physician’s Report, TB Test and a written assessment which will include  a medical history including other health care question.  All facilities are required to do a final assessment prior to acceptance into a facility to determine the level and type of care, a senior needs to best determine  mental state and cognitive health status of the resident and know whether they will need any form of special care such as those with physical illnesses all the way to Alzheimer’s Disease and all medical needs.

This assessment will evaluate the health needs of the senior after considering both the
present and past medical history. A list with Information about their prescription drugs will be required to best ascertain whether their needs are extremely specific and what to do if urgent medical attention or care is required. In addition, included is hygiene and personal care needs.  Many residents will need help from staff to bath, dress, and use the restroom. Hence, this type of assessment will evaluate such areas to enable the facility to make enough preparation for such a need. Moving to a new home far from the environment you are familiar with can bring a lot of uncertainties. Lastly, when selecting a room, equally important is, what can I take from home and how to arrange the new room to make it feel like home with treasured possessions. Elderlink.org helps with those concerns by preparing you for the need’s assessment, and all with this important information, you can be sure that your facility knows what you need at the right time. For further inquiries about elderly care, please contact us 800-613-5772.

Preparing a move into an assisted living facility can be exciting and frightening at the same time. Downsizing for the move often times isn’t as easy. It can be somewhat of a challenge for some families especially when it comes to deciding what to keep and what to let go.

DOWNSIZING – What goes to the new location and what goes anywhere but the new location.

Almost all families that have helped their loved ones to move to an assisted living were confronted with the issue of downsizing. We know that assisted living has many benefits, and exciting opportunities that surround you, but there is limited space. In our effort to make this transition simple we put together a checklist to follow in hopes of making your move simple and enjoyable.

Cleaning Supplies

Although it’s common for most assisted living to offer to housekeeping for residents, we recommend you bring a few cleaning supplies to keep your room the way you like it. Items like surface wipes, 409 and a glass cleaner plus soap, and other personal necessities. No matter where we are it is, we will need them to care for unexpected messes.

Personal Items

This is where making decisions may take a little more of your time. That great dress you bought twenty years ago for that special event you are still keeping just in case another special event comes around probably needs to find a new home. Lots of clothes you never really wear or wear once a year simply because it is in your closet and “Well since it is there you probably should wear it, when in fact if you never saw it again you would not really miss it”, needs a new home also. Items such as friendly daily wear clothes go with you, medications, glasses, and toiletries are the first set of items you should pack. All other items depend on the availability of space.

Decor

Your new home! When seniors are moving to an assisted living one of the few things, they appreciate are items that would make them feel at home. Be sure to Include some personal decor items such as photographs, paintings or plants. The facility will let you know what you can bring but still since this is the time to downsize it may be the best opportunity. Talk to your loved one about what is most important to them to take before the move.  it is a lot easier to do that then instead of once they are in.  Many facilities can recommend a professional company who will measure out the room and make a plan to use the space to the fullest.

Furniture

Many assisted living facilities to allow pieces of furniture aside from the usual bed, sofa, or chair. If the furniture from home won’t work, you can look online, and you will be amazed what you can find at very reasonable prices. For example, a dining table with drop-down sides, a thin shelf to put possibly some pictures on. Include some chairs, there are so many items reasonably priced that are so innovative, your loved one will be excited with new furniture that is unique and yet very functional. 

Household items

You won’t need much of these since meals are generally provided. However, it may be a good idea if permitted to include a set of dishes, pots, a small microwave, and refrigerator.

WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT BRING TO ASSISTED LIVING

Limited space means some items need to go. Painful as it may be, if you do this all at once it is a little less painful with all the excitement and changes happening at the same time. We understand there isn’t a lot of additional space in assisted living like your home, there are many items that you aren’t supposed to pack for you to bring. Such items include:

• Large furniture sets
• Kitchen items
• Collectibles
• Rugs

If you or your loved one are having difficulty downsizing for assisted living or choosing a facility,  please call us, our experienced Referral Agents at Elderlink Referral Service (1-800-613-5772) or visit us online www.elderlink.org (FREE OF CHARGE) we have been helping seniors find the appropriate living facilities since 1995. If you have questions, we have the answers. Let us and our Licensed Administrator help you to make the right decisions based our knowledge and experience. Licensed by the California Department of Health #960000942. Some facilities have kitchenettes in the room with a dorm size refrigerator, a sink and a microwave. This is all based on the facility guidelines and you will know what is acceptable and not acceptable before you move in.

Many seniors will agree to the fact that excitement lightens up their mood and help them to feel better. For this reason, assisted living directors have created various activities that create lots of fun and excitement and added them into the activity calendar of their residents. This is far beyond the usual bingo nights and bridges game. Although these are also fun, residents now need something different from the usual “thing” they are used to already.

Many assisted living facilities are already up for the challenge as they now run dynamic activity calendars all year round. The goal is to add fun and entertaining activities to prevent residents from boredom and the feeling of depression.

We have spoken to lots of assisted living locations and here are some of the fun group activity ideas they have incorporated into their calendars.

OUTINGS, FUN & ENTERTAINING LOCATIONS

Consider taking them to museums, opera, musical concerts, and bus rides to mystery destinations. Most all locations tell us it is perfect for removing the feeling of loneliness when you take them to places, they have never been or been before or they have been there, but some time past. There are many outing opportunities in your local area, explore them and allow your residents to feel the thrill of the world around them once again.

COCKTAIL PARTIES

Assisted living facility directors can introduce a monthly cocktail party whereby every month residents would try a new cocktail drink then share what they think of the taste with the group. For those who do not drink alcohol, find a new refreshing non-alcoholic drink and let them join in with what they think of the taste. This can fill an evening with lots of laughs and smiles and give the tenants a memorable time.

MAGIC SHOWS

Outdoor shows can be organized for residents. Many young magicians are very open to entertaining a group of seniors for free as a community service. This will enable seniors to feel the thrill and excitement of a Las Vegas show even when they have never been there.

There are many young performers who would like to come and entertain the seniors (at no charge or minimal fee). From singers to dancers, story readings to painting class.

TRAVEL TALK

Who says residents living in an assisted living aren’t interested in learning like students? Occasionally, consider bringing in an expert from a recognized traveling agency to teach residents about the different countries of the world and how they are different and unique from one another. Encourage seniors to participate fully by asking them questions and seeking their opinion on the subject matter.

Many of the tenants have never had the chance to travel as they would have loved to. Learning about these places would broaden their knowledge, give them a vicarious thrill and allow them to share places they have visited.

TALENT SHOW NIGHT

Create some fun way to enable residents to socialize among themselves and discover their hidden talent. Learn about activities that are important to them by asking them questions about their thoughts on a specific activity. Once a week or once a month allow a few of them to put on a fun show, or sing, dance or do a scene from a play.

WANT TO ENSURE EXCITEMENT IN THE LIFE OF YOUR LOVED ONE?

Your aged parents need all the care they can get to alleviate the feeling of loneliness and depression which is common among the elderly. Most times, we are not always around to provide such amount of care due to our busy schedules. We then look to the next best solution to help insure a better life and moving them to an assisted living facility makes great sense. For most, finding the RIGHT ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY for your loved one is not easy at times and requires a lot of research.

There is a company that completes all the footwork for you, Elderlink is a free senior referral service that can help you choose the best assisted living facility for your loved ones according to their needs and budget.

They are the only senior referral service fully licensed by the Department of Public Health and your trusted partner when it comes to providing personalized senior care placement. Get the help you need from California’s leading assisted living locator. Call Elderlink today and find out what quality customer care is all about.

Recently, there has been an increase in the demand for professional caregivers for senior citizens. However, the level of care that a senior with special needs requires depends on the stage of the Alzheimer’s/dementia. Many care services are offered by assisted living facilities and memory care units. But assisted living is different from memory care in several ways, www.Elderlink.org understand the difference, which most senior citizens and their families are yet to grasp fully. We are there for our clients and their families answering all their questions and remember our services are always, FREE.

PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEMORY CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING – ELDERLINK.COM WILL HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES

In most cases, memory care units lack the personal up close care for each resident as its commonly seen in assisted living facilities. Assisted living facilities are designed to keep the stress level of those with dementia to a minimum.

Memory care units emphasis on security measures and go the extra mile to prevent patients from wandering while most assisted living facilities have well secured areas specifically meant for seniors with mild dementia.

Memory care units ensure seniors with dementia have access to a relaxed environment always such as creating a place where patients can relax together and watch television. Assisted Living Facilities do their best to make the entire location safe yet more homey. This is done to minimize the stressful and confused state of mind that dementia brings when it strikes.

OTHER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEMORY CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING

Memory care units conduct more safety checks, and most of them have an alarm system that sounds anytime a resident gets close to the exit door. Since seniors with dementia can quickly become stressed, most memory care units maintain a rigid scheduling structure because residents can easily become unfamiliar with the environment but perform better when they stick to a routine.

Lack of appetite is often associated with Alzheimer’s disease. For this reason, memory care units seek to address the issue in various ways such a creating a contrast between the plate in which a meal is served and the meal so residents can easily see their food.

ElderLink.org will advise each potential client or their family which facility offers the best level of care. During our initial assessment we will secure the information required to ensure you are given locations that fit your personal needs most closely.

HOW ASSISTED LIVING DIFFERS FROM MEMORY CARE

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, THE TRAINING OF STAFF

In assisted living facilities, the staff are trained to assist seniors with activities of daily living such as helping them to bath, dress and climb the stairs, feel appreciated and cared for. In memory care units, staff is trained to handle the individual needs of those with Alzheimer’s/dementia. A little less personal and more rigid because staff has to closely follow protocols required by the Memory Care management.

COSTS

When it comes to costs this is where www.elderlink.org will be your best help. A lot of factors come into play for both assisted living facilities and memory care units. This includes whether the living space is shared or private, the geographical area, and the amount of care needed by the patient. Generally, the care offered by many assisted living facilities are less costlier than memory care units and ElderLink knows them all of them throughout California.

Most seniors with Alzheimer’s/dementia and their families need professional advice to help them find the perfect senior care facility that meets their needs, budget and preferences. www.ElderLink.com is the only senior care referral service licensed by the Department of Public Health and we are Certified by the Department of Social Services. Most important to you and your family, our services are FREE. There is a reason why we are the oldest and most respected senior placement referral care provider in California, WE CARE.

Call us 800 613-5772

License CA Dept. of Public Health #960000942

Licensed CA Dept. of Social Services Community Care #6002629740