Your parents’ living situation will become a major cause of concern as they age. Have you talked about it? Do you already have prior arrangements? How many families have we seen fighting and arguing about where to place their parents? It becomes an even bigger problem when one of our parents is diagnosed with a serious medical condition. What is the right thing to do?

There are many places such as a dementia care home in Dover, Kent that welcome older people in their community. But it’s not just a question of place. There’s more to choosing a proper living facility for your parents than picking the first one that pops on your Google search. How about living with you? Have you thought about that? If that is not possible, there are plenty of options for you—from nursing homes to veterans’ communities.

Living Independently

If your parents want to remain in their house, then you should be respectful of that decision. Look for services in the community that can do most of the things your parents can no longer do such as cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, and driving around. Look for meal delivery services so that your parents don’t need to worry about their daily meals. Sometimes, these services are enough for your parents to get by daily.

Retirement Community

This community offers individual apartments with options for activities and services such as group meals, transportation, housekeeping services, and other social activities. Residents can live independently. They can also join in the activities organized by the community. In some instances, medical practitioners such as nurses are present in the community to assist with medical care needs. As the medical needs increase, so do the fees associated with various care services. Some communities provide subsidies for low-income individuals.

Residential Care Facility

This is the right facility for people who need help in fulfilling daily and personal tasks (meals, care, bathing, grooming, and walking), but do not need skilled nursing care. Residents can come and go as they please. They are not confined to the community. Depending on the community, various services can be offered such as socialization and recreational activities.

Assisted-living Facility

You can choose an assisted-living facility if your parents are somewhat independent but need daily assistance such as housekeeping and medication management. The apartments are private, but they share the meals in a common room. There are also social and recreational activities. The staff can assist in grooming, bathing, and using the toilet. There is on-call or on-site medical staff, too.

Intermediate Care Facility

If your parents need round-the-clock care but not nursing care, you can get that from an intermediate care facility. Care services such as bathing, grooming, using the toilet, and walking are available 24/7, but nursing care is not. Most residents can live independently. They need only medical services from time to time.

Skilled Nursing Facility

Are your parents suffering from a medical condition? Alzheimer’s? Other types of dementia? If so, look for a skilled nursing facility. These kinds of facilities provide high-level personal and medical care. Medical practitioners are available 24/7. They can monitor the residents’ blood pressure, manage medications.

Visit each facility first before committing to it. Talk it through with your parents and make sure that they agree that this facility is the best place for them. This is a decision that you have to make as a family. The cost and location are the primary factors to consider.