Assisted living facilities provide assistance and housing services to those in need of it especially senior citizens. As one ages, help may be needed to perform activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, grooming, help in the toilet, moving around etc.
Housekeeping Services Offered In Assisted Living Facilities
It is a big decision to consider moving to an assisted living facility. This mandates that adequate research be conducted before selecting a facility.
Services offered vary from facility to facility but most of them offer basic services such as
• Staff on duty 24 hours a day to provide assistance with daily activities.
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Help with medication, either becoming responsible for administering the medication or reminding patients when it is time to take them
• Meals prepared and served in a common dining room
• Emergency buttons
• Recreational and social activities
• Transportation
Housekeeping services offered also vary in the various facilities and is dependent on the services that the residents opt to receive. It is crucial for the facility to have strict policies regarding cleanliness and sanitation. Some residents may opt to have their quarters cleaned daily while others may prefer to have a weekly housekeeping and linen service.
It will be better to visit the facility physically and check out how clean it is maintained. Many facilities also offer potential residents or their family members to try out a night stay in the facility. This will give you a first hand idea of how well maintained a facility is and get a gist of its housekeeping service as you may look around and perhaps visit the rooms of other residents if possible.
It is essential that the facility is current in its upkeep in order to remain safe to the residents. A facility that appears untidy and unclean may not be a good choice despite low rates as it may cause severe health complications on account of unsanitary conditions. if need be you may write to the Department of Public Health, Division of Health System Regulations to get the details regarding the facilities latest inspection.
The facilities should have appropriate staff for the regular upkeep and maintenance of the building. They must ensure that the building is safe for seniors to move around by themselves by providing handrails in the walls, having the right kind of flooring and maintaining it. Care must be taken to ensure that seniors do not have a chance to slip and fall anywhere due to neglect of the management or the staff.
The rooms have to be cleaned at regular intervals, sheets changed and toilets cleaned regularly. Sanitation in bathrooms and toilets is crucial as many people may share the facilities, enhancing the risk of diseases such as UTI etc.
Select a facility that has been established for a long time as their years of experience may help them serve better. It will be better if they are part of a health care service provider that also includes nursing homes making it easier on the resident to transfer for a higher level of care if desired.