Follow our step-by-step guide to prepare
Step one
Assess Your Needs
Determining care needs is the first step in the planning process. As hard as it can be, having open and honest conversations about what is happening now and what might happen in the future is key.
Having the “talk”
We know it can be hard, but it’s really important to talk about what’s happening as soon as possible. An in-depth conversation guide is available here:
Moving vs. Staying
The decision to leave the home is one of the most difficult a person or family can make. The following checklist can help you take an objective look at the situation:
Caring for Others
Caring for someone full time or helping a loved one transition to a new place can mean changes to your lifestyle. The Family Caregiver Alliance is a good place for families to find additional support and information:
Step two
Solution Search
Once you have assessed your care needs in Step One, the next step is to find the best care solution to satisfy those needs.
Explore Services
There are services available for everyone’s individual needs. Ask yourself key questions to help determine the best service for you or a loved one. Will this service and/or facility meet your needs? Can they accommodate if you or your loved one needs more intensive care in the next step of the aging journey? Can they demonstrate quality of care and successful outcomes?
Location
If it’s a facility, is it near friends and family for easy visits? Is the location near amenities that are important to the aging person such as medical facilities, places of worship, parks, shopping, etc.?
Affordability
Taking all sources of income into account, is the solution within your budget? If you aren’t sure, the next step can help.
Step three
Financing
Hopefully you’ve found a great service fit. Your next step is to get the financial side of things in order.
Determine Payor Sources
Depending on the type of care needed, different sources of payment may be involved. For example, Medicare will not pay for any type of Assisted Living, but may pay for part of Post Hospital Stay costs. This chart provides an overview of services and common sources of funds, while this link can provide more detailed information and resources.
Calculate Monthly Costs
Create a budget based on costs and your available payor sources, or reach out to one of our professionals to walk you through the process.
Begin the Admission Process
Our team will walk you step by step through the process. More detailed information about admissions can be found under each of our service options.
Step four
Managing Your Transition
You’ve determined care needs, found the right facility and/or service and have the financial plan in place. You’re ready for the next move.
The Emotional Transition
As with any good story, you need to finish each chapter before beginning the next. It’s important to recognize the range of emotions that may come with entering this new phase in life. Within each service level, we have dedicated staff to support you during and after an aging event.
The Intellectual Transition
It’s natural and expected for the person(s) transitioning to have many questions about their situation. Preparing a list of those questions for staff and getting answers can alleviate much of the uncertainty. Recommended reading: “Being Mortal,” by Atul Gawande.
The Physical Transition
Whether at home or in a facility, there are physical realities to the aging process. Making changes to improve safety in your own home or planning a successful move are just some of the things we can help with.