I just came across a great editorial from one of my former colleagues at UMBC — Leslie Morgan, co-director of the Gerontology PhD program and a sociologist and leading expert on eldercare services. Check it out:
When an older family member needs supportive housing, there’s often a rush to find a place with the “best quality.” But what is quality? Do family or friends value the same things as the future assisted-living resident?
Assisted-living settings are extremely diverse. To find a good fit, it is essential to look beyond the factors highlighted in marketing tours: cost, room size, staff ratio and appearance. Opinions on which factors are truly essential to quality vary, but one voice should receive the most attention as you decide on housing: the voice of the person who is to live there. Ask yourselves these questions before visiting facilities:
