How important is it to find out about a community’s philosophy of care?
It should be an integral part of your decision-making process, urge experts at ALFA. When making a major life decision such as choosing an Assisted Living residence, it’s important to be an informed consumer. Be sure that as a resident you’ll be afforded respect, privacy, religious freedom, the right to voice grievances should they arise, maintenance of your personal finances, and control over health care decisions. Additionally, inquire about internal regulations regarding pets, alcohol, smoking, and other quality of life issues, to see if they correspond with your personal preferences.
Experts at the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) stress that an integral part of your decision-making process is in understanding an assisted living community’s philosophy of care. When making a major life decision such as choosing an assisted living residence, it’s important to be an informed consumer. Confirm that residents are afforded respect, comfort, privacy, religious freedom, the right to voice grievances should they arise, maintenance of personal finances, and control over health care decisions. Additionally, inquire about internal regulations regarding pets, alcohol, smoking, and other quality-of-life issues, to see if they correspond with your personal preferences. It is also wise to visit the facilities more than once, sometimes unannounced, and observe the interactions between staff and residents.
