Top 5 Questions To Ask Senior Living Advisors Before Making a Decision

Article Written by: Gabrielle Baglino, Oak Street Health

Senior living arrangements can be quite difficult to get through—after all, we’re all looking to get the best care possible for our loved ones. Helping your senior family member choose the right path forward for their assisted living plan is as important as choosing the right physician. It’s important to work together, take your time, and get the decision right. That’s why it’s always a good idea to talk to a senior living advisor with your loved one when deciding on future assistance plans.

They can help you put everything into perspective, and give you valuable insight into what the best course of action might be. Senior living advisors are also aware of all standards and regulations, like HIPAA compliance policies, and will ensure the professionals looking after your loved ones meet these requirements. With that being said, it’s much easier to do so if you know what questions you should be asking. Today, we’ll be looking at the five best questions you can ask a senior living advisor before you make a decision.

1. How Much Will It Cost?

Senior living can be quite pricey, and families who aren’t ready to front the cost may be quite surprised at its price. Budgetary concerns are a top concern of adult children.

The question of how much senior living arrangements will cost can be quite difficult to answer because there are a lot of complex factors that go into it. For example, care levels can be quite varied, as can the amenities on offer. Senior living advisors can advise you on what the best care options might be given your budget. 

With that being said, when you’re asking about cost, be sure to be meticulous and answer your adviser’s questions.

2.  What Financing Options Can We Take Advantage Of?

Finding a good financing option can help increase the level of care you can afford. With options like reverse mortgages, veterans aid, attendance benefits, and others making affording senior citizen care a lot easier.

For veterans, it’s quite common for them to not be aware of the financing options available. Because of this, asking a senior living advisor about it is a great idea.

In other cases, an advisor can help you get a detailed breakdown of upfront and recurring costs in addition to exploring financing options.

3. What Kinds of Locations Are Available?

Location is another big factor for most adult children looking to find a suitable senior living arrangement for their parents. Although a location near your home is usually ideal, it’s often not possible to find an adequate one within your immediate area.

Consider routes you take regularly, like on your commute to work or simply a place where you like to walk around often. A facility near that location can also be suitable.

4. What Kind of Assisted Living Is Necessary?

Although people often refer to many of the options in senior care as nursing homes, there’s far more than that available. Picking the right kind of setting or assistance can be helpful not only with optimizing your budget but also in giving senior family members the best life possible.

5. Ask Your Adviser for Their Opinion

There are only so many things you can account for. Finding the ideal arrangement for a senior family member can seem almost impossible at times. Instead of trying to cover everything by yourself, you could ask your senior living advisor if they have any suggestions or considerations that you haven’t brought up.