When you grow older, where you live is very important. The majority of older adults say they’d like to remain in their own homes. But the truth is that very few of these homes are prepared to handle the safety concerns that come with senior living. A very small percentage of homes even meet the basic universal design features that make a home accessible and senior-friendly, so it would be safe to assume that most homes with seniors living in them are not prepared to handle their needs at this stage in life.

Important Accessibility Features for Seniors:

• step-free entry
• main floor living
• extra wide halls and doorways
• lever-style handles on faucets and door

What Matters the Most When Choosing an Adult Family Home

The decision to move into assisted living is not taken lightly. It’s important that you do your research in order for it to be an informed choice, and know exactly what their needs will require throughout this new stage of life with limitations on independence or other personal concerns about safety if there are any concerns at all!

Searching for the Right Adult Family Home

The search for the perfect senior living community can be daunting, but with a little research, you will find that there are many options available. What matters most in this process? The needs of your loved ones and their personal health requirements! Start by considering these questions:

• Changing needs: As we age, our needs change. Sometimes they are temporary and other times the natural progression of getting older means that something will need to shift in order for us to continue living life fully and happily! When you think about seniors living in a senior community there’s one important question worth considering: what happens if someone’s health takes a turn? Does this person require higher levels of care than before–or does moving around just become too difficult because every day feels like hard work now instead of being limited only by how much energy one has leftover from their past experiences.

 

• Levels of care and care services: at Greenhaven Senior Care the care for our residents is provided by Certified Nursing Assistants. They provide personal care, medication management, housekeeping chores, cook meals, participate in activities, etc. For a full list of services offered at Greenhaven Senior Care, click here. The levels of care your loved one needs will be based on the assessment done prior to admission at Greenhaven Senior Care. Please contact us if you need assistance with having an assessment done for your senior family member.

 

• Caregiver experience: It is important to know the caregiver’s history and how an adult family home hires its staff.  Here at Greenhaven Senior Care, we do NOT hire from agencies!!! When choosing an adult family home for your loved one, find out how they were recruited, screened, and trained before working at this facility? What ratios of staff members do you have per resident here on average? During your tour of an adult family home ask them if it is possible to get some more information about their policies so that you discuss them further and make an informed decision when selecting the perfect one for your loved one.

 

• Adult family home’s personality: If your loved one’s favorite pastime is dressing up for dinner, you should consider this when choosing the care facility. Are they willing to accommodate this? On the other hand, if they enjoy a more casual atmosphere and would rather not wear formalwear all day every day then make sure it’s written in your list of preferences so that senior feels at home with his/her surroundings while still having fun during these social occasions!

 

• Dining options: Greenhaven Senior Care has a variety of menus that are not only delicious but also nutritious and include all the essential items that your loved one enjoys eating. When touring an adult family home, ask for copies of recent menu offerings and find out how many choices residents have, as well as if they can select their own meal times or tablemates from among those available on site at the facility! Flexibility in regards to dietary needs should be considered too so make sure you ask about it when interviewing potential adult family homes for residency and care of your loved one. Greenhaven Senior Care has a weekly menu posted in the common areas. 

 

• Life enrichment: Life enrichment programs are an excellent way to keep your loved one engaged and active. You can find out about upcoming activities on the calendar, as well as weekends or evening hours being offered for socialization where family members can join the residents, depending on what they prefer!

 

While there are a range of other features and amenities that can make an adult family home more appealing it’s important to focus first on the factors that impact a senior’s quality of life and health.

Learn More About Our Availability and Admissions to Greenhaven Senior Care

If you aren’t quite sure what type of care your elderly loved one needs and would like to see if Greenhaven Senior Care is the right place for your family member, check out our services and availability. You call always call our admissions department at (206) 259-5157.  We would love to talk to you!