If your parent is no longer in a position to live on their own, and you are investigating assisted living facilities, then you need to make a checklist of what the facility needs to have. Some places will have more features than others, so it's important that you know ahead of time what your parent will have once they move in. Below are three important things you need to make sure that the facility has.

Round-The-Clock On Site Medical Personal

You want there to be on call, twenty-four-hour medical support. This is very important for a facility that houses elderly people. This doesn't mean that there needs to be a doctor on hand in the middle of the night, but there should be at minimum a night nurse. In a case where there is a medical emergency, seconds count and while the paramedics are traveling to the facility it is important that there is someone there who is capable of administrating medical help.

Housekeeping and Dining Services

This is not a life and death issue, like round the clock medical care, but it is still something that needs to be considered. You want to make sure that there are laundry services and housekeeping services in the facility. Some places might only have laundry machines and expect the residents to do their own wash. While this might be alright for some people, others might not have the strength or mental ability to handle this task. That's why you want to make sure that the facility has the option of housekeeping. This way you can be sure that your parent's cloths, linens, sheets, and other items are kept clean.

Likewise, there should be the option of eating in a dining room setting. Some places will have kitchens in the residents units, but it's also important that they offer meal plans for those residents that don't want to cook.

Dementia Care Unit

You should also look for a facility that has memory care services and also a dementia care unit. Some places will have a separate wing dedicated for residents who have dementia. This section might be reserved for patients with severe memory issues, including dementia, so that they are not mixed in with other residents. The staff will understand that they need more intensive care. The benefit to having the dementia unit located on site is that your parent won't have to go through the emotional turmoil of moving to a complete new location when they begin to develop severe memory problems. They can just move from one floor (or wing) to another. They will likely see many of the same people (staff, residents) and it will not upset their routine too much.