If you are considering senior living options for yourself or a loved one, you probably have questions. It’s important to ask as many questions as possible, and you should make sure each one can be answered by the senior living facility or community you are looking at. Each community will offer different pricing structures, amenities, and levels of care. You want to have as much information as possible to review and weigh your best options for the care and accommodations for you or a loved one. Westminster Place can answer any questions you have about senior living in Texas, so give us a call at 903.329.6520.
Answers to Senior Living Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Life Plan or Life Care Community?
A life plan community can also be known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community or CCRC. It is a senior living community with different levels of living and care on-site to meet residents’ changing needs. These levels of care can range from independent living to skilled nursing or long-term care.
What Is the Difference Between Assisted Living and Independent Living?
Independent living means you do not require any professional assistance with daily living tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, or managing medication. Assisted living offers the added layer of care to ensure all of those needs are met when you cannot manage them yourself.
What Is the Experience of the Care Staff?
This is an essential question; the answer will vary depending on the senior living community. The answer should always include information that puts you at ease and makes you feel comfortable. If a program or facility cannot give you a resume or level of experience for their staff, you may want to reconsider them.
What Are the Meal Offerings?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. But you want to know what to expect. Are the meals chef-prepared? Is there a community dining room? Is in-room dining available? Do independent living units offer kitchens to cook on your own?
If There Is an Emergency, What Services Are Offered On-Site?
You want to know what will happen if an emergency arises. For instance, skilled nursing facilities may have 24/7 emergency care available, while assisted living may call on a local ambulance service to transport residents to the local hospital if needed.
What Are the Accommodations Like?
A range of options will be available as you start the process of finding senior living near you. From luxury accommodations to the most basic of amenities and everything in between are options depending on your need and your budget. Ask for photos and a tour of the property to get a feel for the living arrangements.
What Amenities Are Offered?
Each senior living community offers its own set of signature amenities. This can include on-staff chefs, salon services, local transportation, clubs and games, outings, social events, and more. It’s also a good idea to ask what amenities are included in the regular cost and what may be add-ons.
What Does It Cost?
It’s the million-dollar question. And the answer varies. It depends on all the questions that precede this one: location, level of care, amenities, and more. Ask each community for a breakdown of costs and what is included so you can compare them.
What Care Options Are Available?
You want to know that you have options if your health care needs change. Be sure to understand that you can stay with the senior living community throughout your life journey if you choose. Ask for a breakdown of all the senior living options each location you are looking at has available.
Are You an Accredited Facility?
Find out what kind of credentials the facility has. Are they part of a larger company with multiple locations, or are they a locally run single facility? They may be able to offer information on their association with industry organizations like the Joint Commission or the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc.
Senior Living at Westminster Place
At Westminster Place, we offer different levels of senior living depending on your needs.
Independent Living
Live an active lifestyle among peers, with all the maintenance included and an array of amenities.
Assisted Living
A home-like environment with extra services like medication management and assistance with daily tasks.
Memory Care
A specialized living situation when extra care is needed with daily living due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Long-Term Care
A 24-hour skilled nursing facility ideal for rehabilitation from injury or recent surgery.
Respite Care
To give caregivers a much-needed break, we offer short-term stay solutions in our community.
Ask Westminster Place About Senior Living
Westminster Place offers unique senior living options in Longview, Texas. Our range of amenities alongside top-notch care for our residents’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being is what sets us apart. You and your loved ones can have peace of mind knowing that the residents in our community are well taken care of and enjoy being here. At every level of care, our goal is to exceed expectations.
The senior living experience at Westminster Place includes:
- Community programming, including activities and outings
- A focus on health and wellness services through meals and active physical and knowledge-based programs
- Transportation services
- Luxury accommodations
Call us today at 903.329.6520 to schedule a visit and tour our community to learn more about our services.