5 Questions to Ask When Choosing Assisted Living in Arizona

Choosing the right assisted living in Arizona for your loved one is a big decision. You want somewhere that will not only care for your loved one just like you care for them, but a place that knows what they’re doing, will go above and beyond the basics, and where your family member feels comfortable. There are so many factors to consider before committing to a place.

It’s a big change, both for you and for your loved one. That’s why it’s important to ask the right questions and do thorough research when choosing an assisted living home in Arizona. You want nothing but the best for your loved one, and that’s why it’s important to cover all the bases before choosing a place. The last thing you want is to have paid and have your loved one all moved in, only to find out that it is missing something important.

How do you go about ensuring this doesn’t happen? Here are five questions to ask when choosing assisted living in Arizona.

Are you properly equipped to meet all the needs of my loved one?

Everyone has different needs, and it’s critical to choose assisted living services that meet all the needs of your loved one. First, be sure you, your loved one, and your loved one’s care team assess these needs and know what they are. Then do your research and see which places are equipped to meet these needs. Don’t just leave it at that, though. Be sure to speak with someone at the assisted living community personally to make sure everything is covered.

Not only are there different types of care, but there are different levels of care as well. Before committing to an assisted living home, talk about which one fits the needs of your loved one. For instance, if your family member suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, they will need a community with memory and dementia care, whereas someone who doesn’t suffer one of these diseases may only need independent living or assisted living.

What are the costs and fees?

You want to know upfront what all the costs and all the fees are so you’re not surprised down the line. You don’t want your loved one to be living there for a couple of months only to get hit with a fee you didn’t know about. Be sure to ask about all the costs and fees in the beginning and have a cohesive list of them, in writing. Not only will this keep you from shock in the future, but it will help you and your loved one better assess your finances to make sure that this assisted living community is one you can afford.

It’s also worth asking if there are any financing or payment plan options available to help ease the burden. Another important question to ask before committing is about what happens if the situation changes and you run out of money to make the payments. Is there a grace period or will your loved one have to be moved immediately? Along the same lines, if your loved one does need a different type of care down the line, how does that work in terms of cost?

What are the different locations of the assisted living?

If you’re considering several assisted living communities, you’ll want to compare the different locations. Does each location offer the same types of care? Where are the different communities? This is important because you want to ensure that your loved one is where they’re comfortable. Additionally, as you’ll be visiting your loved one, you want to choose a location that’s easy for you to get to as well.

What kind of meals and activities are offered?

This will be your loved one’s new home so you want to make sure that they’re not left bored in their room alone all day. Find out what different activities, events, and amenities and make sure there are pastimes your loved one can participate in. Make sure they’re interested in these things and know about them in advance. It’s important they continue to live life to its fullest.

It’s also important to know how meals work at the community you choose. Is your loved one able to cook for themselves if desired? Are there meal plans? How does eating in communal cafeterias and restaurants work? Are you allowed to bring food in if desired? You don’t want your loved one stuck at a place where they’re left unhappy with the food options.

What are the health care options offered?

If your loved one gets sick, how does the assisted living community handle that? Is there a doctor located on campus, or will your loved one have to be taken somewhere externally? How do doctor’s appointments work? Is there transportation service available to take them to and from appointments? Or is there a space for appointments in the community? Is your loved one responsible for remembering their own daily medicines or does someone help with that? It’s important to be the health advocate for your loved one and have the answers to any medical concerns in advance. This way, both you and your loved one know the situation and can plan accordingly, especially in the event of an emergency.

There are many different questions you should ask when choosing assisted living in Arizona. The above five questions are a great start and will give you a good feel for any assisted living community you’re looking into. At Solterra, we’re happy to answer all of the above for you (and more), so give us a call today and let’s talk about the best possible care for your loved one.