A cartoon of an elderly man and woman sitting on a bench cuddling, near a pond with ducks.

How to choose a facility to live in:

  1. Choose a facility with a good reputation and convenient transportation and shopping services
  2. Conduct an on-site inspection of the facility, including its surrounding neighborhood.
  3. Make sure it is near shopping and medical facilities, especially a hospital.
  4. Observe whether staff is smiling, rooms are clean, the bed is made well, and the facility smells good. 

 

Enjoying life at a facility

  1. Communicate frequently with staff and tell them your preferences and habist. The more they know you, the more they can provide you with better services.
  2. Know the resources available to you and make use of them
  3. If you have a pet, be sure to keep it clean and groomed. Some staff are allergic to pet hair.
  4. Plan on calling early for assistance. Staff may be trying to help other residents and you need to wait patiently.
  5. If you need special help, such as being discharged from the hospital, you can temporarily hire additional home health care.
  6. Caregiver work is very important and hard. Please respect them, treat each other courteously and live in harmony.

Preparing to move into a facility

Things to pack

  1. Loose clothes, pants without belts and comfortable shoes
  2. Four (4) pairs of pajamas
  3. Seven (7) changing pads
  4. Towels, toilet paper and other personal necessities
  5. Drinks and snacks to eat if you are hungry