Three Food-Related Issues You Need To Explore When Making A Decision About Assisted Living
If your senior loved one is no longer experiencing a good quality of life in his or her independent living situation, it may be time to give assisted living a try. The best assisted living communities combine the best of both worlds — seniors retain as much independence as possible while receiving the customized help they need in order to be safe and happy. However, making the decision to move to an assisted living residence can be an anxiety producing process.
You can limit the amount of anxiety on your part as well as on that of your senior loved one by making several important determinations prior to making a final commitment to any given retirement home. For instance, you or your senior loved one may have questions and concerns about how meals are handled by the community. Following are three food-related issues you need to explore while weighing the pros and cons of various assisted living options.
Is There a Nutritionist on Staff?
All assisted living communities provide residents with meals, but if your senior loved one has any dietary issues, you'll want the reassurance of a trained nutritionist on staff. A good retirement home will provide special meals for those with diabetes, for instance, or other nutritional needs.
Are Snacks and Room Service Available?
There may be times when your senior loved one would prefer to simply dine in rather than sharing a meal with others in the communal dining room. You should also find out if snacks are available to residents at all times. If possible, arrange to have a meal in their dining room — the majority of assisted living communities welcome prospective tenants and their families to sample the fare in their dining rooms. However, always contact them first rather than simply showing up — the chef will appreciate a heads up so that he or she can ensure that enough food is available.
Are Meal Plan Packages Available?
Meal plan packages may be a cost effective option for those who mainly adhere to the same routine on a regular basis. For instance, many seniors find that two full meals per day combined with light snacking in between suits them much better than eating three full meals per day. However, if a meal plan is offered, there should always be the option of purchasing any extra meals a la carte in the event that appetites experience fluctuations.
For more information, contact local professionals like Orchard Park.