Money Management Newsletter: General Interest
Top 10 tips for selecting a residence for your aging relative
Ways to select and evaluate the appropriate residence for your senior relative with special needs

By the Money Management Editor, September 2005
A Money Management Newsletter article

Selecting a residence for your aging relative can present challenges. The variety of residences available (from long-term care to retirement to Alzheimer-specific residences) can cause confusion. In addition, many people have entrenched ideas about what a residence is and looks like - and given that residences have changed drastically in the past several years, those ideas can be wrong!

Finding the right residence is as individual as you are - its where you or your loved one will make a home, make new friends and live life to the fullest. There are some basic steps that should be taken in order to ensure that the residence fits the individual.

The top ten considerations when choosing a residence for a senior relative, provided The Care Guide, are:

1. Define your requirements and distinguish between wants and needs. Do you need a residence - or home health care services?
   
   
2. Where should the residence be located? Make sure it is proximate to friends and family; visitors are very important!
   
   
3. What is the demeanour of people currently at the residence? Visit at different times and on different days during the week.
   
   
4. How much can you afford to spend? Cost varies depending on the type of provider. There may be wide variances in budget - and availability.
   
   
5. Review the residence's latest inspection report. What are the provisions for safety and ease of use?
   
   
6. What is the demeanour of residence employees and are they certified?
   
   
7. Tour the residence's kitchen and ask to review menus.
   
   
8. What type of activities does the residence run?
   
   
9. What type of amenities does the residence offer?
   
   
10. Arrange for a trial stay. Many residences permit overnight or short-term stay.

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