1169 words
If you have reached this position where you are having to make the uncomfortable decision of finding your loved one a proper long-term care facility, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. It is uncommon for strangers, coworkers, friends, and even some family members to open up about their experiences. This is due to feeling a weight of personal shame in this topic for it exposes one’s own personal vulnerabilities and that of their loved one, who they hold in very high esteem.
When the time comes, you will be instructed to select a few LTC facilities that would best suit the patient. Usually, people aim to choose the closest facility to where they reside. This poses a few issues. First, if you live in or near the core of a major city, the waiting lists for those LTCs will be substantially longer than those that are further from regions that have dense populations. Second, every patient is different and has different needs. For example, if your loved one is extremely obese, say over three hundred pounds, access to state-of-the-art and new equipment, such as modern Hoyer lifts and multiple elevators, should be some of your priorities. Luckily, we are given the option to visit these facilities not only to see their equipment but also to get a better picture of where your loved one will live for the remainder of their days. This is the biggest takeaway that you should learn from this section: you need to visit all the facilities that you are considering before finalizing your list of suitable LTCs.
Here is an itemized checklist of what to look for when it comes to selecting the right LTCs:
- Distance to nearby hospitals and fire stations
- Distance to nearby primary caregivers
- Number of routes and traffic arteries to the LTC
- The facility itself
- Distance to stores and restaurants
- Distance to public parks and trails
We will now go over each one of these and explore the reasons why they are to be considered.
Distance to Nearby Hospitals and Fire Stations
First, the distance to hospitals, fire stations and other first responder stations, such as the police, is important. For most of you reading this, this may be obvious. Your loved one, who is going to be a resident at an LTC, will more than likely require urgent medical attention. Though most LTCs have medical staff at the facility, their doctors are usually only on-site a couple of days a week. Given that your loved one will most likely be frail, the chances of requiring additional advanced treatment are higher than the average citizen, thus making the distance to a hospital vital in some cases. What may be a small infection for a healthy person in their prime can easily mean a month’s stay at the hospital for a senior.
Distance to Nearby Primary Caregivers
Next is usually the first item that people consider, and that is the distance to themselves, the primary caregiver. The closer the LTC, the more likely that you will visit and the less fatigued you will be from navigating traffic.
Number of Routes and Traffic Arteries to the LTC
One of the most overlooked aspects of choosing the right LTC is how many viable routes are available to and from the facility. This is important, for you have to consider traffic, construction and weather events that may make the facility either inaccessible or prohibitive to visit on any number of days. Having multiple routes which are viable in terms of traffic flow is key to getting to your loved one reliably and with less stress.
The Facility Itself
The facility itself is arguably the most important aspect and could be an entire article in itself. Newer facilities are attractive due to having better amenities, better lighting and environments that are reported as being “less depressing.” The downside is that newer facilities cost more, so your finances will be a factor in this decision.
The real benefit of a newer facility is that they typically have newer medical equipment, more modern kitchens, computer systems, elevators and security systems. Keep an eye on the quality of the beds, and how large the semi-private and private rooms are, and how large the washrooms are. Also, ask to see the showering facility on the floor. Your loved one will be showered a couple of times a week, and a robust and spacious working environment for the PSW will lessen the chances of injury for your loved one. Also, take note of how many personal items, such as televisions and miniature fridges, you are allowed to bring into the room. A personal mini-fridge is essential to provide your loved one with snacks and alternative meal options if, for some reason, they refuse to eat what is on the menu. The availability of the mini-fridge also provides you, the caregiver, options for snacks without having to resort to leaving the facility for a quick bite or a drink. Upon your visits to various LTCs, you should make a checklist of which of these factors are most important for you and your vulnerable loved one.
The staff at every LTC are not the same either. Take note of the management structure, which company the LTC belongs to if it is private, and the mannerisms of the staff when they do not know that they are being watched. A healthy and supportive working environment means that the nurses and PSWs are free to work as effectively as possible without fear of an inconsistent management structure.
Distance to Stores and Restaurants
The next two points focus on proximity to stores, restaurants, and parks. Having access to stores allows you to get your loved one any items which they may want on a moment’s notice. Being able to stop at cafes or restaurants is important, for it can offer your loved one a break if they are mobile enough to leave the facility. More importantly, restaurants and cafes afford you the opportunity to unwind for your own mental health. They are also great places to have important and uncomfortable discussions with other stakeholders in the patient’s life. No matter how wonderful the LTC is that your loved one is staying at, when things are going wrong, making important decisions within that environment is not the best. In these situations, everyone’s bandwidth is strained, and a change of environment to one that is quiet, calm and controlled is essential. I have also heard of caregivers meeting in nearby public libraries simply because of the enforced quiet and calm.
Distance to Public Parks and Trails
The proximity to parks serves the same purpose in terms of refreshing one’s mind and spirit and should not be overlooked. The unfortunate reality with this entire topic is that as a caregiver, you will be facing many difficult days filled with heartache. This heartache is going to be continual and will not cease. You will be looking at a loved one in a diminished state, and this will wear on you over time. This is especially true if the person in your care suffers from dementia, and we’ll cover this topic in the next section.