These days’ people are living longer, but they don’t necessarily have the ability or desire to maintain a private home as they get older. For some older adults, living independently can become difficult or lonely, and it can be wise to look for assisted living options. There are many facilities for board and care in San Diego, and here is what to expect and look for with this type of home.
Often assisted living and board and care are used interchangeably. We tend to use assisted living to describe a larger community with a variety of private apartments. Board and care homes, on the other hand, are smaller and are private homes that have been converted for use for older adults that need a bit of extra assistance. This can be a homier alternative to a large facility for assisted living, and many people prefer living in an actual house instead of an apartment community.
When you are searching for board and care in San Diego, you should expect to find that the home will include about four or five other residents. Typically, you won’t have more than six people living in a board and care home. This might seem to limit social interaction, but actually one of the advantages is that the residents enjoy a more personal level of care.
This could be a good option for an older adult who enjoys some social interaction but would prefer a quieter, homey environment. Usually, there are still activities and excursions planned at a board and care home. With fewer residents, it can be easier to customize options that please everyone. Of course, some older adults love all of the social activities at a large assisted living community.
How to Choose a Good Board & Care Home
Some board and care homes offer private or shared rooms, so you will need to consider which is best for you or your loved one. Some people don’t mind sharing a room with another resident and others prefer more privacy. Shared rooms typically cost less, so if you are trying to cut costs, this is certainly a consideration.
When touring board and care homes, be sure to ask many questions. Make a list of questions and take notes about each facility. You will want to be especially concerned with the staff at the facility, as this can be the biggest factor in your decision. Hopefully your loved one will also be with you as you choose a facility, but if they are unable to visit all of the board and care homes, it is important that you keep their needs and their personality in mind as you make a decision.
Also talk to the residents. Their their level of happiness will speak volumes about the quality of care provided at a home. It is also important to make sure the other residents seem like a good fit for your loved one in level of activity and personality.
Be sure you understand everything that is included in your monthly fees as well as anything else the owners provide at an extra charge. The staff at the board & care home should have a transparent discussion with you about what to expect in the long term. Your loved one’s needs may change as time goes by. For instance, perhaps for now your loved one just needs meals and a safe place to live without all of the responsibilities that accompany maintaining a private residence. However, in five years, it might be necessary to have assistance with activities of daily living, such as grooming, dressing, toileting, or bathing. Help with these are often included in the monthly cost at board and care homes in San Diego, but sometimes these services might cost a bit more or might not be available at that home at all.
Don’t be afraid to look at many different facilities before making a decision, after all you want to choose a location where your loved one will be happy. To get you started, contact Care Placement today or fill out our simple questionnaire. A Care Placement representative will quickly get in touch with you to discuss your needs and can provide a list of pre-screened homes for board and care throughout San Diego County as well as in Orange County.