Time for long term care facility. Any guidance?

Research places in your area then go visit and spend some time just sitting and observing, talk to other families or persons visiting their loved ones. Have a list of questions ready.

Make sure the facility can accommodate current and future care needs, understand their policies, what are grounds for discharge?, how domtheynhandle emergencies or difficult residents? What are the fees, what are additional charges expected or could be expected as care needs change, what happens when money runs out...do they keep resident and convert to Medicaid? How do they hire and screen staff, what kind of skilled care will your loved one be getting, make sure everything is in writing, review their insurance, check references, does it appear clean, are residents clean and active, what does the social calendar look like, will you need to hire any additional care (consider if this is a senior living or assisted living) understand what services you get and those you don't.

I visited several in my area and spent time at the top 3 before introducing my loved one to one or two. Don't overwhelm your loved one with choices...choose which one you like and what is a good fit for your loved one and convenient for you...a move is a move for them and its pretty traumatizing so you only want to have to do it once.

Your profile says living at assisted living. Do they also provide memory care in the same community? My mother was in AL, she also has Alz. We had to move her to the memory care unit. We called " A Place For Mom" and they emailed me several communities to go tour. We made our decision from the places we toured based on what the needs of our mother....we wanted a private room, a place where she could have her dog live with her, activities for the residents with dementia, what are their policies regarding emergencies, a resident dr. or nurse, food, housekeeping, supplies, laundry,etc. The AL/memory care unit communities probably won't give you a price over the phone, but will when you tour. They will also try to get you to put a deposit down on a room/apartment to reserve it. If the AL your loved one is now living at has a memory care unit, you should be able to be first in line for a room since you already live there. We found when we toured, that there was a waiting list for the memory care unit, but they all had apartments available on the AL side. We moved mom to the AL side until a room was available in memory care. She participated in the memory care program during the day and aides would escort her to and from the memory care unit. This worked fine since she was not a flight risk. I hope this helps you..Hugs!!