Placing your Loved one in Senior Housing
It can take a long time to place your loved one in senior housing. This can be a big transition. The sooner seniors and their caregivers start their search, the better!
Did you know that it can take:
- 47 days on average to place someone in senior housing for assisted living customers and 51 days for those looking for a retirement community
- 75 days if the senior is trying to sell a home
- 31 days for seniors who require medication assistance
- 21 days for bedridden seniors
The median time it takes the company to place a person in senior housing is 46 days.
The 5 key factors that influence timing include:
- Care Needs: Does the senior moving have mobility issues or need medication management or memory care?
- Relationship to Resident: Is this search for you, a friend, a client or a family member?
- Finances: Are there assets, income, benefits, or a family budget in place?
- Search Area Income Level: Does the senior's income match that of the area in which they are looking to move?
- Time of Tear: Do you need to schedule the move around a planned surgery, the weather, or selling your home?
There are resources available to help you and your loved one plan for a future move. One interactive platform that might be helpful is A Place for Mom's Move In Timeline Calculator. This tool accounts for mobility level, budget, needs, and more.
A Place for Mom also recommends these three steps to help find the best senior care facility during this transition:
- Figure out your Budget
- Research your Options
- Tour the Facility
This can be a bit transition for many families. Based on my own personal experience as a caregiver for my mom after my brother passed away, it is best to take the time to sit down and have that family meeting to make a plan for what would happen when the time comes that an aging parent needs more daily care. Hopefully these resources can help!
Joan Lunden’s in-house research and writing team works with Joan to create content that complements her focuses and the interests of her fans. The team is dedicated to creating a thriving community through content and conversations, and hopes their work, like Joan’s, can make a difference in the lives of her readers everywhere.