Assisted Living near Edmonton, AB

Assisted Living in Edmonton, AB

One of the fastest growing age groups in Canada as a whole is the 65 and over group. That means people are living longer, and at some point, they'll need assistance with their daily activities. Assisted living communities are available for seniors who don't need in-depth medical care, but require some assistance with daily activities such as toileting, bathing, dressing, and driving. If you have a loved one in this situation, then you're in luck as Edmonton has quite a few options available for you to choose from.

All about Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital of Alberta, and falls behind Calgary in population by a hair with 1.3 million people living in the metropolitan area. It's located within the low tax providence of Canada, and residents pay significantly lower taxes, which makes living there more affordable than other places within Canada. The city has a wide expanse of land devoted to parks, giving the residents plenty of space for outdoor activities. It's a major oil and gas center, which means it attracts migrant workers. This has contributed to the ethnically diverse culture. This diverse culture has introduced new foods, art, and festival experiences to the city for all residents to enjoy.

Consider Your Loved One

Aging is frightening enough for most seniors, they don't need loved ones making decisions without keeping their preferences in mind. When the time comes for you to consider an assisted living community, you should sit down with your loved one and have a conversation about what they want. It's rather common for adult children to choose communities that suit their preferences rather than those of their parents or grandparents, so it's important that you take a step back and ask your loved one what they want. They're the one that has to live there, and if they're going to be happy, they need to have a say in the decision-making process.

What to Look for in a Community

There are several things you should look for in an assisted living community. These include:

• Is it clean?
When you tour the facility, look past the furnishings and into the corners, baseboards, and windows. Are these areas clean? If they're not clean, that could mean that cleaning in your loved one's apartment could be less than satisfactory, as well. If there are lingering smells throughout the community, that could be indicative of a problem. Ask the manager about it, and what they intend to do about it. If the smell is localized to one section of the community, it could be a recent incident, but it doesn't hurt to ask about it.
• Is the staff happy and friendly?

If the staff is happy and friendly, that means they're most likely delivering the level of care and service you want for your loved one. Be sure to look at several staff members and their interactions. The staff should make eye contact, be courteous to the residents when they speak, and there should be an appropriate ratio of staff to residents to ensure all residents receive the best care possible.

• Is the food edible?
• When you visit a facility, try to have a meal or a sample of the food. No one wants to go where they don't like the food, and this is especially important if your loved one has special dietary requirements. You want to ensure the facility can meet your loved one's needs, and provide a variety of great tasting food. You also want to find out what happens if your loved one can't make it to the dining room for some reason.
• Is the facility secure and safe?
It is very important that the facility you choose is safe and secure. If it's in a rough neighborhood, you might want to consider moving your loved one somewhere else. Some security features many assisted living facilities offer include a gated community, security patrols, and cameras on the grounds. In addition, you want to ensure there is adequate help should your loved one have an emergency in their apartment. Find out how your loved one should contact the facility, and what the procedures are in the event of an emergency.

Paying for Care

Figuring out how to pay for care can be one of the most stressful parts of senior living care, especially if the senior's pension isn't that much each month. Fortunately, there are several options available to families with loved ones entering assisted living. The best way to pay for assisted living is through some sort of long-term care insurance. This usually covers any costs not covered by regular medical insurance, and can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket costs. The downside is that most insurance companies won't insure someone with preexisting conditions, so this type of insurance needs to be sought out before health issues come up. There are also several government resources available to seniors entering their golden years. As a last resort, you can consider paying for the care out-of-pocket, but it is usually better to seek other alternatives first.

Seniors who need more assistance with their daily activities are often hesitant about moving into assisted living facilities because they don't want to lose their freedom. The beauty of assisted living is that seniors get apartment-like living quarters of their own, and these communities are designed to allow seniors to keep as much of their freedom as possible. If you find the community that suits your loved one best, you'll both have peace of mind and be happy with the decision.