5 Questions to Ask Before Moving a Loved One into Assisted Living During Covid-19
Deciding whether to move a loved one can be an emotional decision in normal times —making that decision during a pandemic can be even more difficult.
Of course, many families choose to keep their loved ones at home or living with family as long as they can continue to care for them. But sometimes staying at home can pose risks for seniors too, especially if they:
- Need regular assistance with activities of daily living
- Live alone and have a medical condition that needs to be monitored or one that may require urgent attention
- Are self-isolating and aren’t able to socialize or stay active, which can adversely affect health and well-being
- Live with family members who can’t social distance or isolate
- Have dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another type of memory impairment
When taken into account the safety measures that many communities have implemented, as well as the creative ways of keeping residents engaged, assisted living may be the best option.
The Center for Disease Control and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released clear guidelines to care facilities that will help mitigate the virus’s spread.
At Inlet Coastal Resort, the safety of all current and future residents, as well as employees, is a high priority. All guidelines are carefully monitored and followed regularly. Even with all of the proactive additional steps taken to ensure our entire community remains physically healthy, our staff continues to deliver the highest quality of care in each area of daily living for every resident.
Before beginning your move into any community, it is important to do your research and consider the following questions:
- What safety protocols are in place to prevent COVID-19 from spreading? Among the things you’ll want to know: how frequently are high-traffic spots such as door handles disinfected, and whether the community has shifted from congregate dining rooms to meals delivered to rooms.
- Are staff members tested for COVID-19 weekly and are required to wear personal protection equipment (PPE), such as kn95 masks?
- Does the staff keeps residents engaged? Social isolation increases the risk of depression and cognitive decline in older adults and that’s been a particular problem during the pandemic. Have group activities been put on hold?
- What is the current move-in process like during the pandemic? Are new residents quarantined or tested for coronavirus prior to or upon arrival in the facility?
- Are residents able to obtain quality health care whenever they need it? It’s a plus if the assisted living is part of a local health care system that’s located near the community ensuring residents have access to health care when needed.
For more information on how Inlet Coastal Resort is committed to keeping residents and employees safe, please give us a call at 843.405.2005
