There are some basics which everyone should know when they are searching for a senior home and SeniorHomeFinder.ca has a wealth of knowledge to help you accomplish your goals. Here are a few tips to help you get you started:

What to look for in a home

• Ask to stay for lunch on the day of your tour. This way you get first hand experience of the dining quality the home has to offer.




• On your tour, ask what the ratio is of nurses to residents, as this can be important for seniors moving into the assisted living unit of the property




• Before looking at your options, discuss with your family which location is best for mom and dad. Whether it is near family, in their same neighbourhood, near their doctor; geographic location is an important question to answer early on in the process




• On your tour, enquire about the property’s activities program, and whether or not they have one. Being involved in the community is important, as it contributes to the adjustment of the resident to their new home. A great activities program can help new residents meet new friends and feel apart of their new community, and allows them to be physically and cognitively stimulated.




• Depending on each senior’s needs, the care levels that a property offers are important to know about. Ask what levels of care are provided at the properties of interest, and ask what happens when your Mom and Dad reach a level which requires more care than that facility offers.




• If you anticipate the level of care increasing sooner rather than later, it may be best to look for a transitional model within a community. Some Senior Living Communities offer independent living with an option to move into higher levels of care within the building. This will reduce the risk of having to move your Mom and Dad frequently, allowing them to settle into their new home more comfortably

Where do I start?

• Before you can look at any Senior Living Communities, and before you can even begin to do any research, it’s best to begin with calculating a monthly budget. Decide on a realistic budget that takes into account your current financial situation.When calculating your budget, also make sure to account for any extra services that may be required; such as, bathing assistance, bed-making, foot care, etc. The costs of extra services varies from home to home, however, we can help you decide what services are included and which services will be needed for Mom and Dad.




• Location, location, location. It’s important! Where do Mom and Dad want to live? Where do you want Mom and Dad to live? That’s the next step in narrowing down your search.




• Know what you can and cannot do. As a caregiver of a senior, it is common to want to provide the best care for Mom and Dad, and at times you’ll find yourself trying to do everything you can for them. And you can, just not always on your own. Contact a family advisor at SeniorHomeFinder.ca to discuss your options today.