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Are you on considering senior living for a loved one? Aging is part of life and it calls for some major changes. We’re here to lend you a helping hand when you begin to navigate this transition to senior living. Let’s start with the basics though. What are the first steps to take?

Determine your necessary level of care

Each resident in a senior living facility requires a different level of care than the next. The first step is to assess what level your loved one needs. For example, many different levels of care are provided at Manors. These services Independent Living services for those that are active, Assisted Living for those that require specialized care, Memory Care for those struggling with Dementia and Alzheimer’s, and even a specialized Personal Care program that offers extra security to those in the program.

In addition to varying levels of care, it is important a senior living facility has a versatile and well-educated staff that can adjust to the level of care you determine to be the best fit.

Do your research

There are a few important elements to go over before deciding on a final location for your loved one. It helps to determine what your family can afford on a monthly basis, and then investigate your options based on the price point that fits into your budget.

Next, it’s important to make sure the location you choose has the proper programs (as mentioned above), events, and amenities. This could be anything from group outings, planned monthly activities, physical therapy centers, or even a kitchen that meets your loved one’s dietary restrictions!

A great way to get an inside look at a facility is to read up on reviews from people who have experienced it first-hand! Learning from word of mouth is always a good place to start.

Take a tour (virtual even!)

This step is an extremely important one. Before you can determine if a facility is for you, it helps to get an inside look! Luckily, there are plenty of places that offer physical and even virtual tours! Be sure to take up this opportunity and finally get a more realistic view of what it would be like to live there.

Communicate openly

It’s important that everyone in the family is on the same page when deciding on a facility. It helps to openly communicate with your loved one about the steps you are going through. This can be difficult at times, but it is important to hear their desires and preferences. This makes for a smoother transition into full time senior living.

If your loved one is having trouble with the idea of senior living, read our blog How to Help Your Aging Loved One Adjust to a New Home, where we discuss tips for an easier transition.

Envision the future

Look at your options as if you were imagining a real future for your loved one. What does this look like? Head to the activities section of your potential facilities. Do they look like they have fun events? Are you seeing happy, smiling residents? Click around on social media to see what the day to day may be like as well. You can leave comments and chat with other members of the community that way too and feel more secure about the important decision you are going to make.

At Manors of the Valley, we want to make sure you are comfortable and excited when taking the leap into senior living. Below are resources based on the recommendations above:

• Services: Based on your determined level of care
• Activities: Our exciting monthly events
• Tours: Take a look at our locations in Parkland, Saucon Valley, Bethlehem, and Whitehall
• Staff: Meet our motivated, experienced, and well-educated team
• Social: Get a glimpse of what life is like at Manors!

We understand this is a big and exciting moment in life! Don’t hesitate to ask for help when searching for the perfect location for Mom or Dad.