Which Senior Living/Care Option is the Best? It Really Depends...

By CarePatrol of Fox Cities

As a local senior living and care expert in the Fox Cities, people like to ask me which facility or care option is the best. The only correct response I can give is, "It depends.” This would all be so much easier if there was a right answer, but the "best" for one person is not true for the next. There are certainly outstanding providers in Northeast Wisconsin, and some are able to meet the needs, expectations, and budgets of many. However, the challenge for each family or senior themselves is to consider their own personal situation first and then match up that situation with care and community options that are the most appropriate for them.

Too often, families visit the one care option that is closest to them geographically and choose it without considering other options. I also see families visiting the biggest and most well-known option...the place where their neighbor moved to. Unfortunately for many people, making a decision based on someone else's needs and financial situation often results in making a second move.

The most common reasons for second moves include financial limitations and inappropriate levels of care for an individual's needs. And, while senior living professionals like CarePatrol make care levels and financial situations a critical component of our research and recommendations for families, those navigating on their own can easily get off track when a community just looks so beautiful, has large apartments or seems to have great amenities and activities.

Not every assisted living facility is created equal. Some specialize in memory care, others provide a higher level of care to those needing physical assistance and some offer a relatively light amount of care support. Some communities are very expensive while others provide a lot more bang for your buck. There are those that allow a senior who runs low on funds to remain in his or her suite or apartment with the Wisconsin Family Care funding program, while others will require you to move out to a Medicaid-funded care facility.  

As you navigate the daunting task of finding the right care and community for yourself or a loved one, proceed with caution and ask questions that will address your specific needs. If you're not sure how or what to ask, reach out to the no-cost senior living experts at CarePatrol who will help you find the safest and most appropriate care option for YOU.