How to Find a Residential Home for the Elderly

As seniors age, their health may diminish and their need for assisted care may grow. When they can no longer safely remain in their home, one housing option is a residential home for the elderly. These homes offer seniors an intimate, family-oriented setting in conjunction with support care services offered by trained staff. To find the right residential-care program, you must know the right questions to ask.

Instructions

• 1

  Having current medical information available will help you find the right placement.

  Contact the senior's doctor for current information on her medical needs. Ask about special needs regarding medication, diet, ambulation, self-care abilities and mental function. If no current information is available, arrange for a medical evaluation.

• 2

  An elder-care expert will assess the senior's needs and connect him with the right residential home.

  Find an elder-care consultant or geriatric specialist who can help you find the right type of facility. Every state has a department on aging department with information on licensed residential homes and how to find them. Contact your local senior center, which also has referral information.

• 3

  Expert elder-care referral resources can be found online.

  Go online to find free expert elder-care referral resources. Contact elder expert websites like aplaceformom.com and ElderCarelink.com, and you will be put in touch with senior care experts for more information. If you type in the kind of residential housing program you want with your desired location, they will contact you by email or telephone to answer your specific questions.

• 4

  Select a home with residents having similar care needs and activities of interest.

  Visit the prospective residential home with the person being placed. Include the senior as much as possible while searching for housing so she can feel involved in the process. Be sure the home is licensed. Discuss the care needs of the person you are referring with the residential home staff to ensure the appropriate programming and staff are available.

• 5

  Ask about costs and insurance coverage associated with the level of care needed.

  The costs for living at a senior residential home vary depending on the type and frequency of the needs of the resident. The senior-care experts at aplaceformom.com advise "care level charges will be determined after the resident's needs have been assessed by the owner or operator." Insurance usually doesn't cover this type of care. Ask about any coverage you might get from Medicare for more skilled care like feeding tube maintenance or wound care.