Choosing the Right Community for Your Loved One

Sometimes the best next step is placement in an eldercare community. There are so many facilities to choose from, it can be hard to figure out where to start. While eldercare communities can provide necessary assistance for activities such as housekeeping, meals, rehabilitation services, and skilled nursing care, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right future placement, especially for a loved one.

Check out this list of considerations to help you make the best choice for your loved one:

1. Location: Being close to loved ones or even having a desired area to live is always a top priority for many. When searching for the right placement, always check to be sure the facility or community you’re interested in can provide the services you require. These services can be offerings such as specialized memory care units, outdoor spaces, exercise classes, various activities and different care levels.
2. Transitions to Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care: When choosing a community, it’s important to always stay one step ahead by considering the next transitional phase for your elderly loved one. Some placements offer a care continuum that allows residents to move or transition when specialty care is necessary including the following:

• • Rehabilitation Services including occupational, speech and language, and physical therapies
  • End-of-Life Care (Hospice and Palliative Care) ensures maximum physical, emotional, and spiritual comfort during the final stages of life
  • Skilled Nursing Care provided by a team of competent and compassionate licensed professionals for chronic or acutely ill residents
  • Person-Centered Care strives to maximize the well-being and quality of life for the individual
  • Specialized-Care Dementia Units care for those with memory issues in a supportive and compassionate setting
  • Fully Licensed Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing facility

1. Cost: The cost for any type of placement is a crucial decision-making factor that should be researched beforehand. The process of how payments are made and what types of payment are accepted can vary from facility to facility. It’s important to narrow down your list to the ones that you are financially comfortable with and be aware of all charges upfront. It is also important to consider what happens if the financial situation were to change.
2. Staff Members: Knowing there is sufficient and qualified staff available to take care of loved one is significant. It’s comforting to know that no matter what time of day it is, there will always be someone there to come to their side when necessary.
3. Culture: The culture of a community can sometimes be overlooked, but it’s something that should be considered. Whether you are looking for skilled nursing care or assisted living, you want to make sure that you find a place that feels like home for your loved one. Knowing you can walk in and feel at home goes a long way in creating a successful transition for all involved.

Why choose Notre Dame Health Care for your loved one’s placement? Well there really is a “Notre Dame Difference!” Our campus has many offerings including our du Lac Assisted Living Residence, our Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Center, our Adult and Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care Services and even an Educational Bridge Center. Our services allow our residents to utilize a care continuum for whatever their care needs might be. Additionally, when you walk in our buildings, you feel the warmth and spirit of our communities. We offer a variety of services including spiritual offerings (such as two chapels), numerous outdoor and courtyard spaces to enjoy nature and fresh air, and a wide variety of enriching activities. Did we mention the delicious food?

Come visit our communities and experience the “Notre Dame Difference” for yourself!