The initial diagnosis is heartbreaking and you may not immediately be considering dementia care. But symptoms sneak up on you and your senior loved one. At first it is just the little things that they forget, but the configuration and chemistry of the brain suffering from dementia continue to diminish over time. Their ability to remember, understand and communicate decreases gradually. It can be hard to decide when someone who has ordinarily been independent and self-sufficient is suffering from dementia and should no longer live alone. Here are a few questions to help you determine if it is time for dementia care in an assisted living community.
- Does she call you in the middle of the night for non emergency reasons?
- Have letters and phone calls slowed or stopped? Are you always calling first?
- Is he taking his medications on a proper schedule?
- Is she unresponsive to inquiries during a conversation?
- Is he losing or gaining weight without explanation?
- Does he dress appropriately for the occasion or current weather conditions?
- Is the smell of urine on his clothes?
- Has his usual grooming or clothing style changed dramatically?
- Does he stay up later and later, and not wake until much later in the day?
- Is she late for appointments or not ready when you’re picking her up to take her?
- Does she accuse you of being late when you are not?
- Is she no longer interested in old friends? Does she no longer call or write them?
- Has she quit attending activities like: grandchildren’s athletic events, church, prayer groups, and Bunco night or bridge club?
- Does she forget that you were going to stop by for a visit or to pick her up to take her to your house?
- Is she neglecting to mention or talk to her younger grandchildren or great grandchildren?
- When visiting, is the temperature in his house set too hot or too cold?
- Are there signs of pots that have been burned or forgotten food left out?
- Is his mail sitting unopened and his paper unread?
- Has he bought way too much of certain food that he can’t reasonably eat?
- Has the refrigerator been overtaken with spoiled food or is it nearly empty?
- Does the house smell slightly or overpoweringly of urine?
- Are there signs of forgotten and not cleaned spills or neglected garbage?
- Has his electricity, water other services been shut off because bills have gone unpaid?
- Have you discovered letters or answered the phone when a charity is thanking him for his contribution – and he’s not contributed to that one historically?
- Has she wandered from home or gotten lost when running a simple errand?
One or two of these signs are not an indicator that your senior loved one is no longer capable of taking care of themselves, but they can indicate a pattern. Use this list as a touch point when visiting. Run through the questions in your mind or subtly do a quick review of the list to gauge where your loved one’s capabilities still lie. When it is time to consider memory care assisted living in Tennessee and Georgia, contact Senior Solutions. We have facilities that offer independent, assisted and nursing services. Our staff truly cares for our residents and ensures that they have an enriched and safe life.
What is your biggest concern about seniors with dementia?
They’re not getting around as well as they used to. You’re concerned about their medications and their safety. When the decision is made to research relocating a loved one to assisted living care in Georgia and Tennessee many questions arise. What are realistic expectations for families when that day arrives?
1. Optimum Environment
A thriving community is laid out to provide enriching activities in a safe environment for senior loved ones. Most assisted living communities’ average between 40 and 120 residents. This may vary depending on the size and layout of the community. Each resident (or couple) lives in their own studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment. They have their own set of keys to come and go as they desire. Meals are provided in a restaurant-style dining room, to increase social interaction. They can usually select their meals from among several different options. Some units may have kitchen or kitchenette facilities.
Other public areas of the community can include a living room/common area, library, fitness room, activities room, beauty/barber salon, gardening, outdoor seating areas, theater, private dining room and snack bar. Exterior doors are left open and unlocked during regular business hours but visitors are usually required to check in for security purposes.
2. Level of Service
The services that seniors receive in assisted living are offered at different levels and/or by a point system depending on individual needs. All residents are normally assessed by medical staff prior to moving in to determine their current medical, physical and emotional condition for care planning. Fees for assisted living care are typically added to the monthly base rate charged for the accommodations, housekeeping, activities, maintenance, and transportation. Assistance can include any or all of the following:
- Bathing – Standby for safety or full assistance with all bathing
- Dressing – Standby for safety or full assistance with clothing selection and dressing
- Grooming - May include assistance with brushing/combing hair, shaving, brushing teeth, etc.
- Medication - Medications are stored, administered and re-ordered by the assisted living staff
- Toileting – Standby/transferring assistance for safety, reminders, assistance with incontinence products, and hygiene after toileting
- Transferring - Standby or one-person assistance with moving from bed or chair to a walker or wheelchair. Can include escorting to/from meals and activities.
- Personal laundry (laundering of bed linens and towels is included in weekly housekeeping)
- Pet care
- Scheduling medical appointments
3. The Right Place at the Right Time
Assisted living communities are regulated and licensed by each state to provide a specific level of care. Due to many factors such as other residents, staffing and facilities those levels of services provided can’t be exceeded in meeting residents’ care needs. For the safety and proper care of love ones, there are times with they may need to relocate to another care setting in order to ensure they receive the proper level of senior care. Such moves will ensure the safety, security and well-being of all residents. The circumstances below usually require a higher level of care than typical assisted living communities can provide include:
- Aggressive and/or inappropriate behaviors or wandering - characterized by an increasing level of dementia or Alzheimer’s (memory care communities are a better fit for these concerns)
- Sliding-scale diabetes requiring close monitoring and insulin injections administered by a licensed nurse at varying intervals
- Inability to transfer without the assistance of two persons (A safety concern for employees)
- Incontinence that cannot be managed with reminders/products and a toileting schedule
- Intubations including in-dwelling catheters, feeding tubes, colostomy care (unless the resident is working with a home health care plan that will provide visits to the community on a regular basis)
The goal of assisted living is to provide an enriching environment where senior loved ones are safe and can be monitored to offer peace of mind for the seniors and their families. Encouraging active seniors to maintain the greatest level of independence possible while receiving assistance with daily activities are the primary goals of any thriving community. Do you have questions about any of our communities and what they can offer your senior loved one? Contact Senior Solutions, we’re happy to discuss the plans and options with you. We have independent, assisted and memory care communities in Georgia and Tennessee to ensure the safety and life enrichment of your senior loved one.
What is the most important expectation you have regarding assisted living?
Although we are confident that we have, by far, the best staff in Tennessee and Georgia caring for your loved ones, it is nice when it is recognized. Four of the Resident Assistants from our Tennessee assisted living communities have received The Caring Heart Award from Alzheimer’s Tennessee at the 15th Annual Caring Hearts Recognition Ceremony in Knoxville, TN on April 25, 2013. Alzheimer’s Tennessee bestows this recognition upon the ‘unsung’ heroes, or those who go above and beyond caring for those who face dementia. Their peers or supervisors at the communities nominated the four SSMG caregivers who received this admirable award.
“We could not be more proud of these employees and the dedication they have to our residents,” said Christina Trentham, Regional Director of Operations, Senior Solutions Management Group. “They have a spiritual gift of unconditional love and compassion for not only our residents, and their families, but any life they touch. They are a model for caregivers and a blessing to our communities.” Recognized at the luncheon were
Ashley Rawls - Resident Assistant
Lakewood Place Assisted Living - Loudon, TN
Nominated by Britney Rice, Wellness Director
"Ashley has been with Lakewood Place for three years. Her caring and dedicated nature has become more obvious with each passing day. She is dependable, reliable, and committed to providing quality care to our residents. Ashley comes to work every day with a smile and a positive attitude. She is always willing to do whatever is needed to care for our residents. We are blessed to have such a young and talented caregiver who influences and touches so many lives, as part of our Lakewood family."
Nicole Braden - Resident Assistant
River Oaks Place - Loudon, TN
Nominated by Dorothy Reyes, Wellness Director
"Even though Nicole hasn't been with us very long, her dedication to our residents is obvious. Her calm and caring manner shines through whenever she is assisting residents in our Memory Care neighborhood. Nicole is always putting the residents and their needs at the top of her priorities, by coming in on her days off or working over when needed. We are so blessed to have someone with her compassion, patience, and respect as part of our River Oaks Place family."
Mary Gibson - Resident Assistant
River Oaks Place - Lenoir City, TN
Nominated by Melissa Hensley, Business Office Manager
"When Mary joined our team, she instantly connected to the residents, especially those in our Memory Care neighborhood. She treats each resident as though they are her family and always wears a lovely and comforting smile. It is obvious that the residents adore her and always look forward to her return - they miss her when she is away. We are proud and honored to have such a dedicated, loving, dependable, and enthusiastic caregiver here. She is a blessing the River Oaks Place community."
Meghan McCormick - Resident Assistant
Wellspring Senior Living - Knoxville, TN
Nominated by Cody Davis, Wellness Director
"Meghan is a dedicated worker in the memory care neighborhood of Wellspring Senior Living. Her hard work and enthusiasm is exactly what our Memory Care neighborhood needs. She truly is the person that the residents and families depend on."
This is the poem that was read in their honor -
The Caregiver - by Lorraine Yates
Caregiver - Two words that come together when you speak of someone dear.
It is that special person, if you call, they're always near.
You'll see that in a "Caregiver" - Love comes from in their Heart.
With loving hands and guidance they help each new day start.
Caring for the fragile soul, giving day to day.
They meet the needs of loved ones spreading love along the way.
A gentle touch, a helping hand, a glow that makes you smile.
Always near to a comfort and go that extra mile.
They want no fame or glory, and it puts their mind at ease,
to know they've helped a loved one deal with Alzheimer's disease.
So show a little kindness to caregivers across the land.
You may be the one someday who needs a helping hand.
With peace and understanding throughout the end of time.
There's someone who will care for you and make your spirit shine.
We are so very pleased to have these outstanding individuals providing care for seniors afflicted with Alzheimer's in Tennessee.
When the time comes that a loved one is no longer able to safely remain in their homes due to dementia, the options, questions and choices can be overwhelming. The key to a content senior is having them in the right community that will ensure their safety and provide them with interaction and activities that will continue to enrich their lives. Use these screening questions when evaluating dementia care in Tennessee:
Daily care
- What is the normal routine for the facility?
- What flexibility is available for each individual?
- What is the bathing schedule?
- What kinds of activities are there for them to participate in?
- How do you ensure their dietary needs are met?
- Do you have 24 hour coverage of staff that speaks Spanish/German/Russian etc.?
- What is the staffing ratio?
Stages
- What stage of Alzheimer’s are the majority of the patients experiencing?
- What is the mix (early/middle/late) of the patients in the community?
- How are activities and care coordinated for each stage?
Behaviors
- How does the staff handle behavior issues like aggression, anger, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, sundowning, wandering and agitation?
- Is there a written plan in place when behaviors escalate?
- How often does the staff attend new or refresher training courses?
Safety
- What safety measures are in place for those seniors who wander?
- Are dangerous objects like knives, tools etc. secured?
- Are the rooms equipped with monitoring or summoning devices?
- Is the community safely set up to avoid tripping hazards?
These are just a few of the many questions you will want and need to ask the community that you are considering moving your senior loved one into. For more information, contact us to schedule a visit to one of our communities.
What questions would you ask a dementia care community?
Talking about moving a parent to assisted living is never an easy conversation to have with the parent themselves or other family members. If they are no longer able care for their house or apartment, unable to prepare meals or manage their medications correctly, that is when the discussion must take place. The conversation may be unpleasant and divisive for the family or a welcome relief for all involved. Here are 7 ways to talk about assisted living with your loved ones.
- Start Early
The general “what if?” conversations should start before a fall or illness make them urgent. The topic will be uncomfortable for both parent and children at first, but if the topic has been broached previously it will go smoother when the time comes. When a decision must be made due to an urgent situation or just a slow decline in their ability to fend for themselves, previous discussions smooth the way.
- Get Prepared
If your family is just pondering it, or it is time to make a decision about assisted living, ask around. Friends and co-workers of your age group are undoubtedly going through the same issues as you are facing. Do they have any referrals, tips, recommendations or cautions? Stop by those facilities and ones you’ve seen to pick up information about the facility itself – amenities, activities, pricing and care. When you’re prepared for the discussion, it goes easier.
- A United Front
There will be members of the family that will be resistant to the idea that their parent may no longer be able to care for themselves. If you are the primary caregiver, call a family meeting without the parent to present your case. As with the parent, starting the conversation earlier rather than in a crisis is the best way to handle this delicate issue. Make a pact that all discussions that are not in agreement should take place away from the parent. When it comes time to talk to your loved one, if all siblings are on the same page, it makes for a more pleasant conversation.
- Be Sensitive
Some parents are relived to make the move to assisted living. They are ready to give up some of the everyday responsibilities of caring for their home and look forward to the social aspects of their new community and assistance in caring for themselves. And some are resistant – very resistant. Be sensitive to their feelings either way. This is a huge life changing event for them. Even if it is welcomed, change is difficult. Don’t be too quick to take over the leadership role. Be sure to involve them in as many discussions as you can to ensure a better transition.
- Communicate Effectively
Elders are at the time in their lives when details may slip - or not. Either way, be cognizant of how your parent functions, remembers and learns new things. Give them information accordingly. Some still have very sharp memories and you won’t have to tell them twice. And some will need to have a list of ideas, to-do’s and questions to make the shift more comfortable.
- Patience, Patience
As you care for an elderly parent, patience is the first lesson you’ll learn. Be gentle with them as they make the transition from living independently to assisted living. Many things are affected during this time: independence, mobility, sadness at leaving their home, trepidation about new surroundings, new neighbors and much more. Although you will be tested, just be patient.
- R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Although your roles have reversed and you are now becoming more and more responsible for your parents, they are still entitled to your respect. They have lived a long time, learned so much and made many sacrifices raising you and your siblings. Reassure them that you will do your best to respect their wishes and ensure their well being as they did yours as you were growing up.
Talking about assisted living with your loved ones can be an easier conversation when you employ these seven steps. Have questions about Assisted Living communities in Tennessee or Georgia? Contact Senior Solutions.
Do you have other tips or ways you've talked about assisted living with your loved ones?
Before you make any decisions about which Tennessee senior living community would be the best for your loved one, try to visit as many communities as possible and follow a few commonsense suggestions to make the best possible decision:
- Schedule a tour at each location and visit your top choices more than once, at different times of day;
- Talk to residents and key administration and staff;
- Ask your friends, physician, co-workers and neighbors if they have knowledge and opinions about the various communities;
- Invite trusted family and/or friends along when you tour so you have another set of eyes and ears;
- Take detailed notes and photos, if you wish, at each location so you can sit quietly and evaluate the options later;
- Ask to sit down for a meal to assess the food and service quality of the dining room.
10 health care queries
While Tennessee senior living communities don’t provide medical care per se, they are obligated to ensure that their residents have good access to health care, either on or off site. If your loved one is in Tennessee assisted living, these communities must, under state law, ensure that their resident’s medical and other needs are safely and effectively met.
The health care needs of your loved one are probably one of the biggest motivators for a move to senior living. So, it’s critical for you to ask at least these 10 questions so you understand whether the community is equipped to capably manage and coordinate your loved ones’ medical needs, including medication management and potential future healthcare requirements.
1. Are there health checks available such as glucose monitoring, weight changes?
2. If there’s no nurse available, do nurses regularly visit or are available on-call?
3. What health care providers routinely visit and what type of services are offered?
4. How does the senior community facilitate your loved ones’ access to local healthcare and/or social services?
5. Is someone available to help schedule appointments and/or transport residents to medical appointments?
6. Under what conditions would senior care staff phone 911, a physician or family members?
7. If my loved one is experiencing unusual pain or discomfort, is there a physician on call or on staff who can see him or her as needed?
8. What is the policy regarding medication management? What procedures exist for administering medication to residents?
9. Are residents allowed to self-administer medications, and if so, how does the senior living staff determine that capability?
10. What kind of assistance is offered for those needing wheelchairs, walkers or other assistive mobility devices?
Finding the right Tennessee senior living community requires lots of research, time and effort. But your loved ones are worth it, aren’t they?
Want to ensure you make the right choice for your loved one's move to Tennessee senior living?
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Geriatric care managers are hired to help families assess and manage the needs of an elderly loved one. They typically have extensive training in care management fields, such as nursing, social work, gerontology, counseling or psychology; many have advanced degrees in these areas. One of their most important roles is providing a trained eye for those struggling with decisions about a move to senior living. They can serve as a family guide and advocate and provide an often-needed impartial voice.
Consider these four reasons why you might benefit from the services of a geriatric care manager:
1. Geographical constraints
This is one of the top reasons for utilizing such services. Maybe you live in Michigan, and mom lives inTennessee. You’re concerned about her increasing frailty and she tells you she’s lonesome when you call her each week. Unfortunately, you have no relatives in Tennessee and don’t know which senior living communities would be the best choice for her. A geriatric care manager will assess your mom’s situation and needs, look for the right community, and help make the move as smooth and stress-free as possible. Some assist with decisions about what items to take to the senior living residence and what items to discard or donate.
2. Family disagreements
If you and your sibling or other family member can’t agree on what would be best for dad, believe me, you’re not the only family to face this challenge. You believe dad needs to move soon; your brother says dad seems fine when he (infrequently) visits; and your aunt is worried about whether your dad will be able to adjust to life in a senior community. A geriatric care manager can provide an objective, professional voice and help create consensus among family members.
3. Decision paralysis
Moving to a senior living community is a great choice for many seniors. Unfortunately, family members can become overwhelmed trying to decide if and when it’s the right choice for their loved one. Maybe mom’s clothes aren’t as clean as they used to be, or she doesn’t want to cook dinner anymore. You’re not sure if this means she should move to a senior living residence, but you’re increasingly worried about her living alone. Here’s where a one-time geriatric care consultation might be of assistance. The care manager will come to mom’s home, meet and talk with her, take a look at the living situation, and offer an experienced analysis of what’s going on and what next steps you should consider.
4. Time and energy limitations
Many caregivers today are part of the so-called “sandwich generation,” a term developed to describe those who care for aging parents and their own children. The Pew Research Center estimates that over one in every eight Americans aged 40 to 60 years is raising a child and caring for a parent; the typical such “sandwich” caregiver is a female in her 40s with a job and children. Sometimes, these family caregivers just don’t have the time and energy needed to do a great job looking after mom or dad and helping with transitions such as a move to senior living. If this situation sounds familiar, then consider the services of a geriatric care manager, who can provide you with a professional care plan and a long-term strategy for mom’s care.
The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) is one resource for investigating these services and/or finding a good care manager for your loved one. What challenges have you faced in caring for your loved one?
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A move to assisted living means cleaning out and getting rid of lots of the ‘stuff’ that we all accumulate over a lifetime. Contrary to what you may think, this process is actually a freeing and positive experience for many, and you can help your loved one making the transition to Tennessee assisted living gain the benefits of de-cluttering. Let’s call it rightsizing instead of downsizing.
Keep, donate or toss
These categories are very helpful as you work with mom to decide what to do with her possessions. Some people buy differently-colored post-it notes and assign each color to one of these categories. As you and dad go through each room, talk about the item and decide whether to keep it, donate it, or toss it; the post-it note makes it simple to go back later and group the items together.
Do a room-by-room tour
Start slowly and go room-by-room to assess how much stuff mom has accumulated. Don’t try to do this all at once because it will be overwhelming to your loved one (and you). Pick one room and start a detailed inspection. The bedroom master closet is a good place to start, as it’s often easier to get rid of clothing and shoes than other items that carry more emotional weight.
Pay attention to the kitchen
Many people discover that most of their ‘stuff’ lives in the kitchen. Over the years, we tend to accumulate lots of plates, bowls, glassware, pots and pans, utensils, small appliances and other kitchen accessories. A move to assisted living or even independent senior living means a smaller kitchen and most meals provided for your loved one by the residence. As you help dad sort through the kitchen inventory, focus on keeping only those items that he’ll use once a week or more. Narrow down the pots and pans inventory to a few differently-sized skillets, saucepan and baking pan (if dad bakes). Keep enough plates, bowls, glasses and silverware for family visits, which mean perhaps four of each item. Identify those spices mom favors and get rid of the rest. Which specialized kitchen accessories and small appliances to keep will depend on what kind of cook your loved one is and whether she plans to continue making her famous banana bread or homemade pasta sauce.
Separate special memories from the item
This is often the hardest part of the rightsizing process, yet it’s essential so your loved one can make a clean and positive break from her stuff and move into a simpler lifestyle. We’re not saying that dad has to get rid of that favorite hat that mom used to wear for picnic outings, or the beautiful memento they purchased together on a dream trip to Paris. One strategy is to set aside one box for those special keepsakes that your loved one just can’t relinquish; those items can be moved to assisted living and either displayed somewhere or stored in a closet in the keepsake box for kids or grandkids.
Look to the benefits of rightsizing
There’s a growing minimalist living movement across the country, as people of all ages recognize how good it feels to unburden themselves of ‘stuff.’ Those who have successfully de-cluttered point to these lasting benefits: less stress, easier maintenance, more free time, less waste, and more savings.
Rightsizing to a Tennessee assisted living community is the right choice for many seniors, so focus on the benefits of de-cluttering as you help mom or dad make this transition. What are some areas that you've found helpful when rightsizing?
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Congratulations. You’ve made the tough and probably emotional decision to help your loved one transition to a senior living environment. You’ve visited a number of Tennessee assisted living communities, interviewed key staff and collected detailed information. It’s likely that you’re struggling to decide among a few finalists.
To help you choose which community is the best fit for your mom or dad, it’s helpful to identify the assisted living attributes that are most important to you and your loved one, decide what weight they will have, and then rank the finalists using these weighted attributes. This process will provide you with an objective and logical final selection.
Choosing assisted living attributes
Create a checklist to help you record information on each community so you can easily recall details later. Here are six attributes which many people use to make their community selection.
- Location: the geographic location of the community; proximity to family, friends and shopping; community amenities, safety and size/ layout of the apartment.
- Staff: impressions you form of the executive team; friendliness of the staff; willingness to answer your questions; staff treatment of residents and their observed interactions; staff hours and availability.
- Activities: activities calendar; personality and demeanor of the activities director; amenities related to activities including transportation, game rooms and other entertainment; availability of modern technology tools.
- Quality of care: the experience of the nursing staff; proximity to fire, hospital and emergency services; rehabilitation rooms and quality of the therapists; medication management protocols; whether a written plan of care is provided for each resident
- Cost: total monthly cost of community at the level of care required for your loved one; availability of a comprehensive residency agreement spelling out all services, fees, and move-in or move-out provisions; policies on refunds and transfers
- Gut feeling: we are all given instincts, or intuition, for a reason. Listen to that inner voice.
Now that you have a group of attributes (and you might think of others) against which you can measure your finalists, add a measure of importance, or weight, to each one. This process is valuable because you probably have strong opinions about the relative importance of one or more of these assisted living attributes over others. For example, you might place a great deal of emphasis on the quality of care because of the fragile health status of your mom or dad. In this case, you would want to highly weight that attribute. Give weights to each attribute by assigning a percentage from 0-100%. Those you feel most strongly about would get the highest percentage weight. Make sure the total of all attributes equals 100%.
Then rank each community for each of your selected attributes. For example, you might feel that community #1 offers the best quality of care, so you would rank it a “1” for that attribute. Once you’ve done the ranking, you can now compare the communities against each other. Do this by multiplying the weight of the attribute by the ranking you gave that community on that attribute, and then add these numbers. Since a “1” is the best ranking a community can receive, the community with the lowest combined score total is the one that best meets your criteria.
Finding the best Tennessee assisted living community for your loved one is an important goal. You can make the very best decision possible by identifying attributes, weighting each one, and ranking communities for each attribute.
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The aging of our population drives many local, state and federal elder policies and has led to increased attention to the needs of seniors. The state of Tennessee is no exception to this aging trend; the median age in Tennessee is 37.2 years, slightly higher than the overall median U.S. age, which is 36.2 years. Over 24 percent of Tennessee citizens are older than 55 years and many need accurate information on Tennessee senior living options.
Fortunately, there are a variety of public resources that can help in finding living choices ranging from home care to assisted living to specializedAlzheimer’s care communities. State agencies, non-profits and watchdog organizations all provide valuable assistance. Here is a checklist of five key resource sites providing information on Tennessee senior living, as well as other important eldercare issues.
1. Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
This commission’s stated mission is to “bring together and leverage programs, resources and organizations to protect and ensure the quality of life and independence of older Tennesseans and adults with disabilities.” It provides a wide range of elder information, including caregiving, Alzheimer’s, elder abuse, and long-term ombudsman programs.
2. Tennessee Area Agencies on Aging and Disability
Nine area agencies on aging (AAADs) organized into regional county groupings across Tennessee provide “accurate and unbiased information on all aspects of life related to aging or living with a disability,” according to the website:
3. Tennessee Assisted Living Facilities
This comprehensive site offers data on costs of assisted living communities, admission requirements and scope of care. Visitors can also search currentTennessee senior living license status and find out who owns a particular assisted living community center, last licensing survey date, how many beds, and other important pieces of information that help individuals make informed decisions about their or their loved ones’ senior care.
4. National Clearinghouse on Long Term Care Information
Developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this website provides information to help you and your family plan for long-term care needs. Included is information on Medicare/Medicaid coverage, long-term care insurance and senior living housing choices. Click on your state for more information on Tennessee senior living options.
5. ConsumerHealthRatings.com
This is a comprehensive listing of organizations that rate/report on the performance of health care providers; search for the state of Tennessee.
Choosing the right senior living situation for you or your loved ones is a critically important job and these resources should help you sort through all the information. Tell us about your experience searching for senior living options – what sites were the most helpful?
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