26 Aug Five Questions To Ask When Selecting An Assisted Living Community

Have you realized that caring for your parents or elderly loved ones has become too overwhelming? Do they need help and support you can’t provide on your own? If you’ve come to the conclusion that the best option for everyone is to move them to an assisted living community, you’ve taken an important first step. Now, consider these five questions to decide which assisted living community best suits their needs and offers you the greatest peace of mind.

How Will My Loved One’s Care Level Be Determined?
Most assisted living communities charge monthly fees based on how much support the resident will need. So understanding your loved one’s abilities and challenges is vital to figuring out your financial commitment as well as determining the care they will receive. Each assisted living community has its own processes and procedures to assess a person’s physical and cognitive health and current level of independence.

The Carolina Inn, which provides senior living in the Village Green neighborhood in Fayetteville, North Carolina, offers a personalized Assisted Living Needs Assessment to potential residents. During the evaluation, the assisted living community’s director of nursing and an administrator visit with your loved one and assess their proficiency in mobility, dining, dressing, bathing, toileting, orientation, and behavior. The Carolina Inn’s integrated team then creates a customized program—one that encourages independence and preserves each person’s dignity. Remember, the level of care your loved one requires is fluid and may have to be adjusted over time based on their changing needs.

Who Will Be Caring For My Loved One?
Assisted living communities provide a certain level of health services. These generally include medication management, a pharmacy, first aid, and emergency response. Most also have medical personnel on staff who visit residents on a regular basis.

Offering senior living in the Village Green neighborhood, The Carolina Inn provides the highest licensed nurse-to-resident ratio of assisted living communities in the area with licensed nurses on each floor and trained staff available 24 hours a day. Caregivers provide medication monitoring as well as assist with daily activities such as bathing and dressing. Every resident is equipped with an emergency response system, as well. Additional services such as diabetic care, podiatry, and lab resources are available to those living at The Carolina Inn as needed.

What Types Of Life Enrichment Opportunities Are There?
Beyond caring for their residents’ physical well-being, most assisted living communities also provide an array of activities to keep seniors engaged socially and cognitively, too. These can range from on-site programs to off-site excursions. Often, a variety of church or worship services are offered for spiritual support.

Enhancing each resident’s quality of life is the goal of the Life Enrichment Programs at The Carolina Inn. By participating in innovative and stimulating activities, seniors can discover new passions or rekindle old ones. They can participate in artistic endeavors such as painting, poetry and music or take up gardening or creative cuisine. Sharpening their skills on Facebook, FaceTime, Skype, Zoom and other technology platforms can help them stay connected to you even when you can’t be there in person.

How Will My Loved One’s Nutritional Needs Be Met?
More than ever, assisted living communities pride themselves on their cuisine, offering a restaurant-style experience, grab-and-go cafés, and in-room dining to reflect the varied preferences of residents. Flexibility in menu choices are designed to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Most important, though, are healthy recipes that address the nutritional needs of seniors. Heart-healthy, low-salt, no-sugar, and even gluten-free meals are commonplace.

Three meals a day are included at The Carolina Inn and today’s room service features the same menu options originally created for the dining room. Menus change daily and chefs regularly try out new recipes yet meals are always nutritious with a selection of appetizers, entrees, vegetables, breads or starches, and desserts. The Carolina Inn’s diverse menu combines classic southern dishes with fresh, seasonal meals that incorporate North Carolina’s local produce plus fresh herbs and vegetables from the community’s on-site greenhouse. The culinary staff is even willing to work with you to make sure your loved one’s dining preferences are met.

What Is Included In An Assisted Living Community?
In general, assisted living communities provide services for seniors who are struggling to manage day-to-day activities on their own. These range from personal care like dressing and bathing to health care such as medication monitoring and emergency aid. Your loved one’s living space—whether an apartment or shared room—also is included. Some assisted living communities require a downpayment or entrance fee while others offer more flexibility with no long-term commitment and monthly rental options. Monthly service fees are usually added based on the level of care needed.

At The Carolina Inn, monthly fees cover Life Enrichment Programs, recreational and social activities, three meals per day, and transportation as well as assistance with daily activities and medication management from a 24-hour caregiving staff. The assisted living community’s one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom suites boast universal design for safety and comfort and each has an in-room refrigerator and handicap accessible bath. All residence maintenance plus housekeeping and linen service are included, too.

The Carolina Inn
A boutique assisted living community, The Carolina Inn offers senior living in the Village Green neighborhood of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Spanning 100 acres, Village Green boasts mature tree lines, rolling hills, water vistas, and a secluded ambiance. It is close to doctors’ offices and medical services with Cape Fear Valley Regional Hospital less than one mile away. Fort Liberty and the PX are nearby, as well.

Ready to help your loved ones transition to an assisted living community? Contact The Carolina Inn for a personalized Assisted Living Needs Assessment, today.